Sheffield derby gives diverging rivals a vital chance to test their mettle

The age-old maxim goes that form counts for nothing when the stakes are so unbearably high, but there is no doubt that the 130th Steel City derby is a meeting between two teams ostensibly heading in different directions. In the red corner at Bramall Lane will be third-placed Sheffield United and in the blue, a disorderly and off-colour Sheffield Wednesday who will make the four-mile journey to the south of the city after four successive defeats.

When Wednesday arrive on Friday evening, they will be entering Chris Wilder territory. The United manager was a boyhood Blade; ballboy, fan and then full-back before being offered his dream job in May 2016. Wilder’s first taste of the Sheffield derby was on the terraces in 1980 as a 12-year-old, but savours every one like it is his last.

His workaholic captain and top scorer, Billy Sharp, is made of the same stuff, the striker in his third spell at his hometown club. When United overcame Hull City on home soil last month to soar to the Championship’s summit, Wilder pulled a hamstring amid the celebrations when he booted the match ball up into the sky at the final whistle. “I’ve still got that player mentality, a little bit of edginess about me,” he said. “I enjoy working for the club that I love.”

For Blades supporters, Wilder – who has a tattoo of the club crest – is their working-class hero. He is, as they sing, one of their own. Before the last derby, which finished goalless, Wilder said: “I don’t know how I can put this in a way that won’t offend people, but I know that if I’m on the Titanic and there’s a Blade and an Owl and one space left on that life raft, I’m dragging that Blade into it.”

He grew up in Stocksbridge, north of Sheffield, but was born an old-school manager; he tells the story of how, a few weeks into the job, he pulled £100 out of his back pocket to pay for some beers for his squad to enjoy on the journey home from Millwall, despite a failure to curtail a winless start to the season. Team spirit is the foundation for any success; through the spine of his side are not only talented individuals but also big characters.

Wilder’s first move as manager was to sign Mark Duffy and the wily winger who joined on a free transfer from Birmingham has since proven himself a priceless commodity. Duffy turned to scaffolding while playing for non-league Prescot Cables after being released by Liverpool as a schoolboy, but he has shone in Sheffield.

If Duffy is their catalyst, Sharp is their trusty source of goals, while the defender Chris Basham, summer signing Oliver Norwood and Dean Henderson, the England Under-21 goalkeeper on loan from Manchester United, have all been influential this season.

Wilder’s other eye-catching loanee, Ben Woodburn, has struggled to make the impact many had predicted; the Liverpool forward has just one league start to his name. Wilder insists the 19-year-old is not a “special case”.

There is plenty room for improvement, though, and Wilder may take heart that his team can call on a home advantage on Friday. They have stuttered on the road, most recently coming unstuck against Nottingham Forest where his team were too flat, reminiscent of performances at Bristol City and Derby County.

“It seems we have to play at our maximum to get a result, and when we don’t we are an average side,” Wilder said. “It’s something we need to address because it’s happened two or three times this season.” Asked if they require an ounce or two of extra quality, he said: “I’d be dangerous if I had some cash, I know that. It’s not all doom and gloom, but we need to find a way to get a result. It’s a win or a loss for us, and we’ll be banging our heads together to try and find [a solution].”

At Wednesday, the immediate forecast looks bleak. A lot has happened since Jos Luhukay’s first match in charge, that 0-0 at Bramall Lane at the turn of the year: 15 wins, 16 defeats, plus a few wondergoals from Adam Reach.

Luhukay’s left-field appointment left a swell of supporters uneasy and after tumbling to within four points of the relegation zone, faith in the Dutchman is in short supply. Wednesday have shipped 12 goals in their past four matches, moreover, and have the joint-worst defence in the division. Two wins in 10 matches makes grim reading no matter who you are.

Luhukay has been hamstrung by the balance sheets. The chairman, Dejphon Chansiri, has sanctioned just one permanent signing – Joey Pelupessy on a free transfer from Heracles – since Luhukay replaced Carlos Carvalhal. After a harrowing 4-0 defeat to Norwich on Saturday, Chansiri became embroiled in a heated confrontation with supporters outside Hillsborough.

During that match some fans chanted the names of Sam Hutchinson and Keiren Westwood, two players mysteriously ostracised under Luhukay. They are not the only ones either, with David Jones and George Boyd also exiled.

Suggestions that some players have clauses in their contracts that could trigger extensions or have financial implications have been strenuously denied. “Absolutely not,” Luhukay said.

The midfielder Barry Bannan has suggested the derby might prove to be the perfect tonic for Wednesday. “It is probably a good game to go into considering the circumstances we are in,” he said. “If we win then everything gets forgotten about and the fans will be happy again.”

Either way, there is growing sense that Friday’s result will define whether Luhukay will indeed be afforded the chance to celebrate his first anniversary.

Talking points

• Portsmouth, Shrewsbury and Oldham will be among the teams hoping to avoid an FA Cup first-round upset this weekend, when they face Maidenhead United, Salford City and Hampton & Richmond Borough respectively. Elsewhere, Ebbsfleet United entertain Cheltenham Town, who are yet to win in nine attempts in League Two under Michael Duff.

• Liam Kelly is only 5ft 4in but has made an almighty impact since being handed his Reading debut by Jaap Stam two years ago. Described by the manager as possessing “world-class” technique, the midfielder, who joined the club aged eight, hit a fine goal in the win against Bristol City. Victory against Ipswich Town on Saturday would be their third successive home win.

• After picking up one point from a possible 12, is it time to panic at West Bromwich Albion? “It’s not so much concern, it is more disappointment really,” Darren Moore said after his team slipped to seventh following defeat at lowly Hull. The Baggies entertain the league leaders, Leeds, this weekend. “We know what happens if you take your eye off the ball,” said Moore.