Derby County vs Sheffield United

EFL Championship Matchweek 30 - Saturday 1st February 2025 - 15:00 - Pride Park
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Player Ratings:
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Officials:

Referee: Tom Nield
Assistants: Jonathan Hunt and Darren Williams
Fourth Official: Sebastian Stockbridge

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​

 

[SB_90]

3pts is always a great result away from home. espically as paul Warne seems to be a bogey manager. remember them looking like world beaters at rotherham. but not for the other 44 games as got relegated, despite all the panicking. we are still on for 95pts. despite not being at our best & can only improve

im more worried about Sunderland than i am about burnley. as is usual Scott Parker like at Bournemouth. is hugely underperforming compared to the squad & budget he has to work with. (excluding that freak plymouth 1st half) burnley have scored 1 league goal since they beat us on boxing day (4th January) & scored 8 goals in the last 11. that is not promotion form

 

[SUFC Guy]

Well we won and that is all that counts - for now.
Noticed Cannon today, first time in 3rd game - touch in control and passing like an elephant.
Playing him WEAKENS the team from what ive seen
Then to everyones surprize on 50+ minutes lets the ball run (wide on left) turns his marker puts the ball across the box and top striker Diaz sidefoots it in.
SO easy if you do the simple things correct.
Harry Clarke better than Gilchrist going forwards - but so would I be if we had a working NHS and could get the ops.
exposed by bad player choices in front of him as everyone is.
Choudary. Statuesque for the first 20.
Bit more involved later.
NOT anywhere near a Prem player.
WEAKENS the team in comparison to Peck.
slower, less committed, less skilful.
If you think Ohare has been bad for 20 games (ie have eyes and a brain) he was EVEN WORSE today.
even clown prince wilder took him off.
Brewster played out of position all game he was on.
Stupid and soul destroying for him - but missed a good chance as i said above.
PLEASE CLOSE THE WINDOW NOW to stop Wilder giving away good young players for nowt
I CANNOT believe anyone thinks this is the correct way to play and that we actually WIN by playing this shit but we would somehow lose if we played well.
Orwellian thought processes in play as everywhere in life at the moment.
Hope we have a good football man co commentator on Radio Sheff like Edwards or ronnie Moore but very much doubt it
exposed by playing attackers wide

Surely this has to be a wind up. Are you really a Blade or an undercover snort beast?

Jesus !

 

[blade too long]

16 games to go

blades 9 at home 7 away
leeds only 7 at home and 9 away

and their away record isnt that hot leeds have only won 5 of 14 away games

Sky Bet Championship | League Table | Away Performance | 2025-2026 | Football Web Pages

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[ancientblade]

3 points is 3 points and we move on but not a great performance again and derby should have had a point that was a sitter of a header that clarke missed we so miss hamer hes got to stop with these stupid bookings

 

[McGrath]

What’s wrong with entertain and win?

Ain't that the mentality of West Ham fans. Despite getting them in the top half of the Prem and winning a European trophy, they wanted Moyes out because of his style of football. They were all gleefully happy when Julen Lopetegui was hired and expansive football was on the cards. Then reality hit

 

[SUFC Guy]

16 games to go

blades 9 at home 7 away
leeds only 7 at home and 9 away

and their away record isnt that hot leeds have only won 5 of 14 away games

Sky Bet Championship | League Table | Away Performance | 2025-2026 | Football Web Pages

Live Football Scores, League Tables, Form Guides, Attendances, Latest News and other stats from the Premier League, Football League and Non-League football

www.footballwebpages.co.uk

We simply must beat them at the Lane if we don't want to see them disappearing over the horizon. Burnley and Leeds have and will likely to continue to have a superior goal difference so us finishing on the same points as them will leave us in the play offs.

 

[Shadota]

That result, will potentially look far more impressive come the end of the season.

We've battled against a side which is entirely oriented around doing just that - battling. Derby were all about work rate, with minimal end product. We were dragged into a war of attrition as a result. Perhaps in a perfect world we would have been strong enough to get past that and dominate the game, but with the effort they put in, I think that's asking a lot.

First half was poor all around. Neither side really looked capable of winning the game, and our performance in particular was exactly what I'd expect, from having a bunch of new signings mixed in.

Second half was certainly better. Excellent work from Cannon to create space for himself, phenomenal cross along the 6 yard box, and smart stuff from BBD to break free to tap in.

For most of the remaining time, we let Derby control things, and just held them at arms' reach. Which is fine in a match like this, where the opponent is struggling offensively. But we'd absolutely be punished for it against a stronger opponent. But we saw it out, and it's a valuable win.

Liked the look of Clarke. Seems more eager to make passes forward, compared to Gilchrist who tends to be a bit safer in possession. Choudhury also looked very good. Alert to danger, and often handled it well. Did notice him lose the ball a couple of times though, by trying to play a first-touch pass and playing straight to a white shirt. However, a few of our established players do the same on occasion, so I'll not jump on him for it when others are just as prone to the same.

O'Hare is one that frustrates me. For all the good he does off the ball, in chasing players down, forcing mistakes and winning possession, he is often so wasteful in possession. We had multiple opportunities to try and counter attacking today, and several of them broke down due to O'Hare holding onto the ball for too long, or turning/passing backwards and slowing the attack down, or trying to play a pass and giving it away. I'm convinced by his work rate, but he needs to take much better care of the ball if he is to be our #10 long term. Hamer is a drastically better option in that position, and O'Hare should be competing for the LW spot.

 

[1066blade]

We're not going up in autos. Accept and move on.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Had a purge and worn out the ignore button. My mental health is bad enough without having to read some of the whiny shit on here.

 

[blade too long]

there has never since the championship was this format been a top 2 and 3rd place settled by goal difference

leeds have been poor away

burnley surprisingly have only won 6 of 14 home games. they continue to bore out 0-0 draws

we have no more short comings than they have

 

[blade too long]

Scrappy game. Derby were poor but combative. We didn't create very much and looked misjointed. Not suprising given the amount of changes we've had to make. 3 points away is always good though.

Cooper - 6 - Very little to do but looked comfortable.
Burrows - 5.5 - Not one of his better games. Little going forward and kept drifting inside when pushed further up.
Robbo - 6 - Solid game. Seemed to win most things.
Anel - 6 - Gets caught wrestling/shirt pulling too often but had a solid game.
Clarke - 6 - Decent debut considering he's only just come in the building. A bit more forward thinking. One good cut back. Good late tackle.
Souza - 5.5 - Good to have him back. Thought he was a bit off the pace, which isn't surprising.
Choudhury - 6 - Solid debut. Got stuck in.
O'Hare - 4.5 - He had a bit of a mare. Lots of loose passes.
Brewster - 5 - Not really sure why he starts and then doesn't play as a two upfront. He put a shift in but had an embarrassing shot and also should have done better with the cutback.
BBD - 5.5 - Got the goal but thought he was largely anonymous. Had one break when I just wanted him to drive at the defender but just slowed it down.
Canon - 4.5 - Again, largely anonymous but got little service.

Subs:

Campbell - 5.5 - Came on and made a few runs but I wanted a bit more from him
JRS - 4.5 - Again, largely anonymous.
McCallum - 6 - Kid can sure jump! Looked lively when he came on.
Peck - 5 - As did Peck. Had one chance over the top he should have done better with.

Wilder - 6 - Good reaction to the Hull defeat but we looked sloppy and once again there didn't seem much of a plan. Its a good away win though.

its amazing how we didnt lose 1-6 with those marks . luckily we cant get relegated with damn awful useless squad some of us see as we are in 60 points territory

 

[Frank the tank]

Scrappy game. Derby were poor but combative. We didn't create very much and looked misjointed. Not suprising given the amount of changes we've had to make. 3 points away is always good though.

Cooper - 6 - Very little to do but looked comfortable.
Burrows - 5.5 - Not one of his better games. Little going forward and kept drifting inside when pushed further up.
Robbo - 6 - Solid game. Seemed to win most things.
Anel - 6 - Gets caught wrestling/shirt pulling too often but had a solid game.
Clarke - 6 - Decent debut considering he's only just come in the building. A bit more forward thinking. One good cut back. Good late tackle.
Souza - 5.5 - Good to have him back. Thought he was a bit off the pace, which isn't surprising.
Choudhury - 6 - Solid debut. Got stuck in.
O'Hare - 4.5 - He had a bit of a mare. Lots of loose passes.
Brewster - 5 - Not really sure why he starts and then doesn't play as a two upfront. He put a shift in but had an embarrassing shot and also should have done better with the cutback.
BBD - 5.5 - Got the goal but thought he was largely anonymous. Had one break when I just wanted him 7

3 points is 3 points and we move on but not a great performance again and derby should have had a point that was a sitter of a header that clarke missed we so miss hamer hes got to stop with these stupid bookings

It wasnt
He was underneath it, maybe if he had grown a foot he could have got it on target

 

[bakeblade]

Scrappy game. Derby were poor but combative. We didn't create very much and looked misjointed. Not suprising given the amount of changes we've had to make. 3 points away is always good though.

Cooper - 6 - Very little to do but looked comfortable.
Burrows - 5.5 - Not one of his better games. Little going forward and kept drifting inside when pushed further up.
Robbo - 6 - Solid game. Seemed to win most things.
Anel - 6 - Gets caught wrestling/shirt pulling too often but had a solid game.
Clarke - 6 - Decent debut considering he's only just come in the building. A bit more forward thinking. One good cut back. Good late tackle.
Souza - 5.5 - Good to have him back. Thought he was a bit off the pace, which isn't surprising.
Choudhury - 6 - Solid debut. Got stuck in.
O'Hare - 4.5 - He had a bit of a mare. Lots of loose passes.
Brewster - 5 - Not really sure why he starts and then doesn't play as a two upfront. He put a shift in but had an embarrassing shot and also should have done better with the cutback.
BBD - 5.5 - Got the goal but thought he was largely anonymous. Had one break when I just wanted him to drive at the defender but just slowed it down.
Canon - 4.5 - Again, largely anonymous but got little service.

Subs:

Campbell - 5.5 - Came on and made a few runs but I wanted a bit more from him
JRS - 4.5 - Again, largely anonymous.
McCallum - 6 - Kid can sure jump! Looked lively when he came on.
Peck - 5 - As did Peck. Had one chance over the top he should have done better with.

Wilder - 6 - Good reaction to the Hull defeat but we looked sloppy and once again there didn't seem much of a plan. Its a good away win though.

Good summary and about as I saw it

 

[Keen Blade]

But why are we entitled to win convincingly every game? Hull are possibly in a false position, Derby are on a horrible run. However they are made up of 11+ professional footballers who are fighting for their lives. They are not going to roll over and die.

Unlike Cardiff when faced with Weeds ?

 

[Keen Blade]

If he can't bring himself to be honest about what we've just seen there then he's clearly fully lost the plot

He may be just dishonest

 

[Davalon]

And I can accept some people like win at all costs…

I like to watch entertaining football

And I don't think there's anything wrong in that.

For me it's about balancing the scales to get results based on your circumstances at any given time.

In my 40 odd years watching us, playing entertaining passing football has been meagre. Even though, I thoroughly enjoyed some of those times and there were some exciting games.

When Wilder took over the first time, it was probably my first experience of us utterly dominating teams and passing them to death.

We even took that into the first PL season to a lesser degree.

Tbf I fully understand the focus being on shoring up the defence this season. I don't think any of us have seen us ship so many goals in a single season.

Despite some turgid performances and poor halves this season, we've also played some lovely stuff in spells.

Despite gaining the same points so far, Leeds are clearly far more attacking, clinical and ruthless.

Nothing to mope about there from me.

Let's see how the offensive side pans out when new players are bedded in and others come back.

Until then it's the 3 points that matter.

 

[FinchleyBlade]

Had a purge and worn out the ignore button. My mental health is bad enough without having to read some of the whiny shit on here.

Football shouldn't affect anyone's mental health - it's just a meaningless game at the end of the day. Bread and circuses.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Football shouldn't affect anyone's mental health - it's just a meaningless game at the end of the day. Bread and circuses.

It shouldn't but it does. Go figure, eh?

 

[Sheffsteel]

Big 3 points.

Burnley won 2 of the last 7 in the league. That's blownn my mind!

We’ve now won 4 out of our last 5 games.
That’s better form than Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland.

Performances not been good though which can be seen as a positive or a negative.
The positive slant is…if we’re winning so many matches when we’re under par….then imagine how many points we’ll gain when we play well.
The negative slant is….sooner or later results will catch up with and start to match performances.

 

[Frank the tank]

We’ve now won 4 out of our last 5 games.
That’s better form than Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland.

Performances not been good though which can be seen as a positive or a negative.
The positive slant is…if we’re winning so many matches when we’re under par….then imagine how many points we’ll gain when we play well.
The negative slant is….sooner or later results will catch up with and start to match performances.

Or performances will improve now squad is stronger and layers get used to playing together
Chuck hamer back in and a centre back and who knows this could be the start of something special

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

16 games to go

blades 9 at home 7 away
leeds only 7 at home and 9 away

and their away record isnt that hot leeds have only won 5 of 14 away games

Sky Bet Championship | League Table | Away Performance | 2025-2026 | Football Web Pages

Live Football Scores, League Tables, Form Guides, Attendances, Latest News and other stats from the Premier League, Football League and Non-League football

www.footballwebpages.co.uk

Encouraging. Leeds should win every game with their squad but they don't. We should not with our squad. But we are matching the results this season. I get we're not playing as well as we should but we're 2nd and a great chance to go up and get buggered again in the Prem. What is all the moaning about? The future is bright , the future is somedays, red and white somedays a fright.
Love this forum

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

New lads all did well. Great day out and brilliant support from all our travelling Blades.

 

[Sheffsteel]

And I don't think there's anything wrong in that.

For me it's about balancing the scales to get results based on your circumstances at any given time.

In my 40 odd years watching us, playing entertaining passing football has been meagre. Even though, I thoroughly enjoyed some of those times and there were some exciting games.

When Wilder took over the first time, it was probably my first experience of us utterly dominating teams and passing them to death.

We even took that into the first PL season to a lesser degree.

Tbf I fully understand the focus being on shoring up the defence this season. I don't think any of us have seen us ship so many goals in a single season.

Despite some turgid performances and poor halves this season, we've also played some lovely stuff in spells.

Despite gaining the same points so far, Leeds are clearly far more attacking, clinical and ruthless.

Nothing to mope about there from me.

Let's see how the offensive side pans out when new players are bedded in and others come back.

Until then it's the 3 points that matter.

Agree….i’m the same.
Generally prefer entertainment over results
But in certain games….the result is more important that entertainment
After losing to Hull…..then today was all about the result.

Another important factor is we have so many new players or players coming back from injury
So it’s almost like a pre season friendly for us…with some of the players clearly not up to speed and still needing time to gel.
Logic suggests…..we can only improve going forward.

 

[Westran]

I thought this during the game, and both Wilder and BBD validated it, the pitch was shit, you could see it didn't lend itself to free flowing football, probably didn't help the quality.

 

[Chilttheblade]

We’ve now won 4 out of our last 5 games.
That’s better form than Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland.

Performances not been good though which can be seen as a positive or a negative.
The positive slant is…if we’re winning so many matches when we’re under par….then imagine how many points we’ll gain when we play well.
The negative slant is….sooner or later results will catch up with and start to match performances.

Or put another way won 4 from the last 9

 

[bakeblade]

I thought this during the game, and both Wilder and BBD validated it, the pitch was shit, you could see it didn't lend itself to free flowing football, probably didn't help the quality.

For such an impressive stadium the pitch was a disgrace

 

[ancientblade]

i think burnleys downfall could be scoring enough goals thought leeds were much better than them last monday

 

[Keen Blade]

Before it all goes silly and out of hand like it seems to on here when people have differences of opinion.

For the record … our points total this year is 10/10 our resilience, never say die attitude etc is 10/10

But the football is no higher than a 5/10

If we have any designs on going up … and competing resilience, effort, hard work is just not good enough anymore and that’s all we are going to get if we stick with they Warnock, Bassett and wilder type managers.

Yes I’m a blades fan but I want to see us progressing as a club and at the minute … apart from new ownership I see no progress on the pitch and very little off the pitch.

The right noises are coming from the new owners and I hope they lead us in to a bright new future when we catch up with all the top top clubs who are doing things much better than us from top to bottom

Don't include Bassett in that.
He knew how to identify forwards.
He signed Deane & Agana.
He had us in the PL for 4 seasons against all odds.
Prior to his arrival we were a soft touch for many years and he gave the club a backbone and some character.

 

[Charlieblade]

Or performances will improve now squad is stronger and layers get used to playing together
Chuck hamer back in and a centre back and who knows this could be the start of something special

A very good away result against a battling Derby side. Our performance not so great.

I have long been an advocate for higher performance levels, but looking back, we have done well to keep pace with Leeds and Burnley. Leeds score a lot and Burnley defend well.

At the start of this season, we had a new side in rebuild mode, and they were playing a different formation. Gaps were filled by quality youth players, who are often inconsistent when thrown into the hurley burley of the man’s game. We still got results, despite some poor performances, but I felt the team would lose momentum and finish mid table.

That team had the same problem of integrating a lot of new players with a 2 point deficit. We still managed to get results, but performances sometimes suffered.

We have a similar problem now, with players out and 5 or 6 new arrivals to fit in, with no pre season. It will take time and a few tough results and performances, but these players will get us there. An unselfish assist from Cannon proves it!

My only concern now is Hamer. By far our most productive player, he might be targeted by other teams who see now why we have missed him. Playing anywhere Wilder asks him to, he always performs. We rely on him heavily.

We have battled through disappointing results and performances throughout the season. We had an unfinished rebuild at the start, and now we need new players to integrate quickly and positively, as they settle into the side. I have more confidence now, than I had at the beginning of this season. We will get results, and performances will improve.

 

[MobileBlade]

Or put another way won 4 from the last 9

Why do you keep trying to shoe horn that reserve game in against Cardiff?

Won 13 drawn 3 out of the last 19 league games. How far back do you want to go?