Sheffield United beat city rivals Wednesday thanks to Leon Clarke brace

Chris Wilder will forever bemoan the fact he was never able to appear in a Steel City derby during his playing days with Sheffield United but, thanks in large part to journeyman forward Leon Clarke, his first taste of the fixture as a manager will live with him forever.

Just a day after the United manager celebrated his 50th birthday, Wilder masterminded a thoroughly impressive demolition of his cross-city rivals as his team collected their biggest away win in the fixture for 25 years.

On a day of historic firsts, Wilder could also boast that his team had scored four away goals in a derby for the first time in its 124-year history and the celebrations he led with the visiting supporters after the final whistle may be the most genuine and heartfelt that will be witnessed on any football field this season.

“It’s the proudest moment of my career and the best birthday present,” said Wilder. “Yesterday was draining. I read that Carlos Carvalhal said he slept well last night but I’ve not slept for seven days!

“I don’t think I can put into words what this means. I went over to the fans to celebrate and why not.

“Our fans have had it rammed down their throats enough times about the last six years so it was nice to give our supporters something back.

“I’m not going to criticise the opposition. They have their own agenda, why should anybody be bothered about us? But we’re a dangerous team and I don’t think their supporters realised that.”

It certainly appeared that Wednesday’s defence had failed to register that danger, inside the opening minute, when Tom Lees ended a brilliant run from youngster David Brooks, starting just his second game, with a trip on the edge of the area.

Brooks’s clever back heel set up John Fleck whose equally impressive strike beat Keiren Westwood.

Carvalhal’s side looked nervous and that state was not improved when they went further behind after 14 minutes, as Wednesday cleared a corner but watched as Edna Stevens punted the ball through the middle, presenting Clarke with the opportunity to calmly convert from a step inside the area.

But somehow, despite an atrocious first half, Wednesday clawed their way back into contention with virtually the last kick of the half.

Jack Hunt cleverly headed Ross Wallace away to the by-line and his near-post drag back was converted by Hooper for his fifth goal in as many consecutive games.

The timing of the goal lifted Wednesday, and their crowd, and Portuguese substitute Lucas Joao added more momentum before fittingly scoring a 65th minute equaliser when he swept in a well-aimed Adam Reach cross.

That should have been a foothold from which Wednesday could go on and try to win. Instead, inside two minutes, they again trailed.

Clarke’s pass forward could have been dealt with but, instead, substitute Mark Duffy shrugged off his marker’s attention and was able to beat Westwood from a difficult tight angle.

Clarke had already missed a superb opportunity to claim his second, minutes before Wednesday’s equaliser, but he would not make the same mistake after 76 minutes when yet more poor defending, this time from a collision between Lees and Joost van Aken, left him the space to drive the ball into the corner.

”I don’t think it gets any better,” said Wilder. “It was all in today. Don’t let anybody tell these two sets of supporters that this was just about three points and that it’s long, old season.

“This was everything today. For both clubs. To lead my team out in such a fantastic atmosphere was a special experience and we capped it off with a wonderful performance in every aspect of the game.”

Wednesday manager Carvalhal now has a major task to lift his team ahead of Wednesday’s visit to Birmingham and another, potentially explosive meeting, with league leaders and Yorkshire rivals Leeds on Sunday.

“This was a game with high emotion and when you concede after two minutes it makes you even more nervous and you make mistakes you don’t normally make,” he said.

“But I want to say all those mistakes are my responsibility. I want all the pressure on me, not the players.”