Sheffield Wednesday may have lost the Steel City derby, but they fought hard – at least most of the team did. For one player in particular, though, the performance fell short of expectations. In a highly anticipated game, this marked the first clash between Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United in over five years, after a long spell with Wednesday in the third tier and United’s recent stint in the Premier League. Though Wednesday were labeled underdogs by manager Danny Rohl, they certainly didn’t play like it.
The Owls showed incredible energy in the first half, managing to stifle United’s attempts to dominate the game. By halftime, it was Sheffield Wednesday who seemed the more likely to score. However, in the second half, the Blades took control and eventually broke the deadlock. From there, they held on to secure the victory. With a bit more accuracy in front of goal and stronger individual performances, things could have gone differently for Wednesday.
One player whose absence was glaring was Barry Bannan. In the lead-up to the match, Wednesday legend Lee Bullen had highlighted Bannan as “crucial” to the team’s chances. Given his experience, especially in a high-stakes derby, expectations were high. But Bannan struggled to meet them, and his influence on the game was minimal. His match stats reveal a performance that fell short in key areas, from passing to duels and defending.
According to SofaScore, Bannan won only two out of seven duels and lost possession 16 times. His passing, typically one of his strengths, was lackluster – with only 40% accuracy on crosses and 30% on long passes. He also gave away three fouls, including a reckless challenge on Harrison Burrows that earned him a booking. Though SofaScore rated Yan Valery as the game’s worst performer with a 6.0, Bannan’s 6.7 score may have been overly generous given his struggles with basic elements of the game.
The midfield, which often decides the outcome in derby games, was a battleground Wednesday could not conquer. Vinicius Souza, while not at his best, managed to control play in the center, while Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare found ample room to exploit. Compared to Bannan’s 72% passing accuracy, Souza and O’Hare each maintained an impressive 81%. O’Hare ultimately played a key role, threading a precise pass for Tyrese Campbell to score the decisive goal.
Wednesday fans had hoped for a game-defining performance from Bannan, but he ended up being more memorable for his reckless tackle than any game-changing play. The derby loss may not have been for lack of effort, but it was a reminder of the critical role that strong, decisive leadership plays – especially in the heat of a derby.
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