THE SCRIPT was written before the game – former player returns to haunt his old club – but not everything went according to the formbook.

With Sheffield United seemingly heading for promotion and Sheffield Wednesday fighting against relegation, this was going to be pay-back time for the legendary Boxing Day massacre of 1979 (when the Owls inflicted a 4-0 defeat on the Blades). Well, according to a large section of red-and-white supporters it was, anyway.

Yet although Alan Quinn's goal secured a welcome victory for the Blades this was no disgrace for the Owls and it would have been an injustice if they had gone home with their wings clipped any further.

Paul Sturrock's injury-ravaged side emerged with pride intact – albeit in the knowledge that the Blades are currently the top club in the city and a good bet for promotion to the Premiership.

As manager Sturrock pointed out afterwards, the real measure of the divide between these two clubs will come in February at Hillsborough when his options are likely to be boosted by the return of the many walking wounded.

It could, of course, have been a completely different story if the Blades had taken advantage of the Owls' early nerves.

Even Sturrock admitted his youngsters failed to handle the pressure in the first 25 minutes when the Blades took the lead.

The home supporters were whipped into a frenzy by a trip down memory lane which saw cult figures including Brian Deane and Alan Kelly paraded on the pitch just before the first whistle.

If that was a clever psychological ploy, manager Neil Warnock also played a trump card by opting for three strikers in attack against a defence that had been creaking like a barn door in the previous few games.

It was virtually one-way traffic until half-time with the Blades showing exactly why they are pushing for the Premiership and the Owls are batting to avoid relegation back to League One.

Had Steve Kabba ripped the net open from close-range rather than strike the ball into the floor, thus allowing defender Graham Coughlan to block, it could have opened the floodgates. Instead, the Owls held on for 24 minutes before Quinn finally broke the deadlock.

The Republic of Ireland international was one of two players lining up against his former club and subsequently became the first player in history to score for both clubs in a Sheffield derby.

Quinn drove home from 12 yards after good work down the right by Danny Webber and Kabba.

 

Although the ball struck Neil Shipperley on its way into the net, the burly striker appeared to be standing behind the goal-line.

Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver, the only Sheffield-born player on the pitch, denied Quinn a second goal just a few minutes later when turning his 25-yard free-kick around a post.

The Owls found it tough to get out of their own half and had resorted to lumping the ball forward in hope rather than expectation.

Striker Darryl Murphy was anonymous until just before the break when he showed good awareness to make space on the edge of the area and shoot narrowly wide.

Sturrock's options in attack had been limited by injury to Lee Peacock and the absence of long-term casualties Steven Maclean and Drew Talbot.

In defence, loan signing Peter Gilbert made his debut at left-back in place of the injured Paul Heckingbottom while Richard Wood had returned as a replacement for hamstring victim Drissa Diallo.

The Blades had signalled their intentions by adopting an attacking 4-3-3 formation from the start.

 

Kabba and Shipperley were back in the starting line-up alongside Webber while the defence was shaken up by the return to fitness of Rob Kozluk, Craig Short and David Unsworth.

Axed from the Blades' side were Michael Tonge, Keith Gillespie, Alan Wright, Vincent Pericard and former Owls defender Derek Geary.

Considering the limited amount of possession they enjoyed before the break, the Owls must have been relieved to start the second half trailing by just one goal.

The Blades had won the majority of the battles in midfield and goalkeeper Paddy Kenny had barely been tested. The Owls had been unadventurous, short on inspiration, yet stubborn in defence.

Wood's determination to win the ball on the ground and in the air set an example to his Wednesday team-mates. The youngster's recent performances may have been a slight concern, but on Saturday, sporting the bandaged brow so often associated with defensive warriors, he was a colossus once again.

With a sparcity of clear-cut chances, a looping header over the bar from Shipperley was all that threatened Wednesday's goal after the break.

The Owls gained a stronger foothold and substitute Burton O'Brien was unlucky not to equalise with a low drive that rolled inches wide of a post.

The balance of power in midfield was nearly always in United's favour where Phil Jagielka, Nick Montgomery and Quinn had too much in the locker for the opposition.

Chris Brunt and Glenn Whelan failed to shine for the Owls while Craig Rocastle ran around to little effect – and these were the players who Sturrock hoped would mature from boys to men.

The introduction of winger Chris Eagles injected missing creativity and, not for the first time this season, Blades full-back Unsworth looked uncomfortable against tricky footwork.

As the Blades counted down the clock, Brunt's 30-yard free-kick brought a terrific save at the foot of a post from goalkeeper Kenny.

Warnock led his players on a lap of honour, but the Owls players were also afforded a standing ovation by their followers. Honours may not have ended even, but it was a defeat that will be easier
for Owls to accept.