Sheffield United 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday: Owls relegated in record time after Steel City derby defeat

Sheffield Wednesday became the first team in English Football League history to be relegated in February after being beaten 2-1 by Sheffield United in a bad-tempered Steel City derby.

The Blades led 2-0 when they had Kalvin Phillips sent-off early in the second half, while the visitors had Gabriel Otegbayo dismissed with just a minute remaining as their fightback fell short.

Early goals from Patrick Bamford and Harrison Burrows had put the home side in full control.

Wednesday were given hope when they pulled a goal back through Charlie McNeill four minutes after Phillips was red-carded, but an equaliser never looked like coming at Bramall Lane.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed EFL news you need, subscribe to The Football League Paper website, digital edition, or newspaper from as little as 14p a day.

Off-the-field problems

Relegation comes during a season when Wednesday have been swimming against the tide following major off-the-field problems.

After wages went unpaid on various occasions during Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership of the club, Wednesday were deducted 12 points in October after going into administration.

They were then hit with a further deduction of six points in December for “multiple breaches of EFL regulations relating to payment obligations”.

The Owls have managed only one win and eight draws this season and fate decided their arch rivals would deliver the final blow, ending Wednesday’s Championship status after three seasons.

Match action

Seny Dieng – the seventh keeper to play for Wednesday this season after being signed on an emergency seven-day loan from Middlesbrough – had to pick the ball out of the net in only the second minute.

The goal came when Joel Ndala’s poor clearance went straight to Gustavo Hamer just outside the box and he slipped a great ball through to Bamford, who finished with ease.

As the home side looked to build on their fast start, skipper Japhet Tanganga fired over from a good position, Burrows shot wide and Callum O’Hare’s effort beat Dieng but struck the keeper’s near post.

The second goal came in the 19th minute when a good move down the left ended with Sydie Peck picking out Burrows’ run and he fired confidently past Dieng.

There was a flare-up in the first half, which brought most of the players together after Hamer clashed with Jamal Lowe.

Second half

And United were reduced to 10 men four minutes after the interval when Phillips was shown a red card after leaving a foot in following a challenge on Svante Ingelsson.

Wednesday made the man advantage count in the 53rd minute, scoring with their first meaningful effort on goal when McNeill fired inside Michael Cooper’s left-hand post from just inside the area.

They failed to carve out another serious goalscoring opportunity, however.

And when Otegbayo was ordered off in the 90th minute after picking up his second yellow card for hauling down Tyrese Campbell, it ended any hopes of a miraculous late turnaround that would have given the Owls a reprieve from relegation for at least a few more days.

Tough

Owls boss Henrik Pedersen reflected on a “tough, tough season” after seeing his team relegated following defeat to their cross-city rivals.

He said: “It was a tough day. We knew it would be a difficult game here but to give ourselves this beginning of the game to make the mountain even bigger, it was a tough beginning.

“But again, the boys show when it’s difficult, and with this start, that they stay together and they stand up together and they work very hard to come back.

“We run a lot after the ball. We invested a lot. And then we conceded to 2-0 on our right side with a double pass.

“Then we changed a few things at half-time and then I think we were very strong in the beginning of the second half.

“We were better on the ball to switch to create something to the side, but we were also stronger in the pressing and then we scored.

“We all believed and hoped that we could get the second goal and the boys did everything.

“It’s painful to be relegated, of course. It has been a tough, tough season. There is a big, big job in front of us. We will do all we can to finish this season strong.”

Ruthless

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder acknowledged they had to be “ruthless” and condemn their opponents to relegation.

Wilder said: “Glad to get the job done, really. Team showed different qualities as well, especially after the sending-off.

“Two goals, really well constructed, good qualities in terms of goals, in terms of getting the ball back straight away, not allowing them to breathe.

“We just needed to keep doing the right things and then the sending-off, obviously off the back of that and the goal straight away, changed the atmosphere of the game and then we had to dig in a little bit.

“That gave them a lift, gave them some energy, gave their supporters a load of energy without really, apart from a couple of forays down the left, without really troubling us off the back of that.

“We’re having a decent moment with our club at the moment, but it’ll swing back. It’s a ruthless business. I’ve got to look after my team.

“We have to be ruthless because that’s the nature of the business. And nobody would have it any other way.”

READ MORE: Sheffield United vs Sheffield Wednesday: Chris Wilder – My focus is simply on us