Sheffield Wednesday recorded a double victory over Sheffield United on Saturday with a thrilling 2-1 victory.
Not only was it their first win at the Lane for 42 years, but it was the first time Wednesday have defeated United twice in one season for 95 years. A record most fans thought would never arrive.
Tommy Spurr gave the Owls the perfect start at Bramall Lane by scoring after just 46 seconds. But United soon hit back through debutant Arturo Lupoli's close range header with just four minutes played, to halt Wednesday's high tempo start.
The winner came from a 25 yard screamer by Wednesday's Marcus Tudgay after half an hour, which instantly placed him in Owls' folklore;
"It will certainly stick in my mind for a while, probably the best I've scored in my career" beamed a delighted Tudgay who had missed the week's preparations in training due to being snowed in at his home in Derby;
"I've asked if I can do that every week after that goal! I was very pleased to see it go in, hopefully now I can continue this form and add a few more before the end of the season".
This historic victory will mean everything to the Owls after finally doing the double over their city rivals for the first time since 1914.
The man who many Wednesday supporters will look to thank for this historic win will be manager Brian Laws who also acknowledged the scale of the win on Saturday;
"There's a new sense of optimism at the club which was optimised in the win on Saturday. The lads became heroes for the fans and everyone is now just on a real high".
Sheffield United will now be looking to concentrate on the league and keep their place in the play offs following the defeat. The result moves them down a place to fifth and manager Kevin Blackwell admitted that the defeat on Saturday could throw the players' concentration;
"It's all about promotion for me now, and I'm sure the fans will agree. I was distraught on Saturday like everyone else, but now we have to look at the league and really kick on to make sure we achieve promotion and get this club back where it belongs".
Blackwell also refused to place any blame for the defeat on Saturday on his players;
"The lads have been terrific for me. I couldn't ask any more from them in training, or the game today. Credit must go to Sheffield Wednesday. They came here with a plan of keeping our fans quiet and they did so successfully".
On the other side of Sheffield, Brian Laws gave his players the day off training on Monday for achieving such a memorable win. Captain Richard Wood is now looking forward to the next two games for the Owls, against local rivals Doncaster and Barnsley;
"The day on Saturday was just amazing. The lads are really buzzing from it. We now have another two derby days to look forward to and hopefully we can pick up maximum points".
The bragging rights will now shift to the blue half of Sheffield, with Wednesday now unbeaten against their local rivals in the last four meetings.
John Gath, the chairperson of supporters' group 'wednesdayite' spoke of his delight at seeing his team achieve history;
"It was just a matter of time. They've had this record and certain bragging rights in the city because we've just never been able to win there for one reason or another. But to finally see it happen was just amazing, a memorable day in the club's history".
Jonathan Garnett, The Steel Bugle.
Not only was it their first win at the Lane for 42 years, but it was the first time Wednesday have defeated United twice in one season for 95 years. A record most fans thought would never arrive.
Tommy Spurr gave the Owls the perfect start at Bramall Lane by scoring after just 46 seconds. But United soon hit back through debutant Arturo Lupoli's close range header with just four minutes played, to halt Wednesday's high tempo start.
The winner came from a 25 yard screamer by Wednesday's Marcus Tudgay after half an hour, which instantly placed him in Owls' folklore;
"It will certainly stick in my mind for a while, probably the best I've scored in my career" beamed a delighted Tudgay who had missed the week's preparations in training due to being snowed in at his home in Derby;
"I've asked if I can do that every week after that goal! I was very pleased to see it go in, hopefully now I can continue this form and add a few more before the end of the season".
This historic victory will mean everything to the Owls after finally doing the double over their city rivals for the first time since 1914.
The man who many Wednesday supporters will look to thank for this historic win will be manager Brian Laws who also acknowledged the scale of the win on Saturday;
"There's a new sense of optimism at the club which was optimised in the win on Saturday. The lads became heroes for the fans and everyone is now just on a real high".
Sheffield United will now be looking to concentrate on the league and keep their place in the play offs following the defeat. The result moves them down a place to fifth and manager Kevin Blackwell admitted that the defeat on Saturday could throw the players' concentration;
"It's all about promotion for me now, and I'm sure the fans will agree. I was distraught on Saturday like everyone else, but now we have to look at the league and really kick on to make sure we achieve promotion and get this club back where it belongs".
Blackwell also refused to place any blame for the defeat on Saturday on his players;
"The lads have been terrific for me. I couldn't ask any more from them in training, or the game today. Credit must go to Sheffield Wednesday. They came here with a plan of keeping our fans quiet and they did so successfully".
On the other side of Sheffield, Brian Laws gave his players the day off training on Monday for achieving such a memorable win. Captain Richard Wood is now looking forward to the next two games for the Owls, against local rivals Doncaster and Barnsley;
"The day on Saturday was just amazing. The lads are really buzzing from it. We now have another two derby days to look forward to and hopefully we can pick up maximum points".
The bragging rights will now shift to the blue half of Sheffield, with Wednesday now unbeaten against their local rivals in the last four meetings.
John Gath, the chairperson of supporters' group 'wednesdayite' spoke of his delight at seeing his team achieve history;
"It was just a matter of time. They've had this record and certain bragging rights in the city because we've just never been able to win there for one reason or another. But to finally see it happen was just amazing, a memorable day in the club's history".
Jonathan Garnett, The Steel Bugle.
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