Blades chief admits striker was “miles off” when he first joined from Stoke City but got his rewards for hard work with the only goal of the game in 1-0 derby win over Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder hailed Tyrese Campbell’s derby day winner and admitted: “I’m so glad he chose us.”
The powerful forward’s 50th minute strike proved the difference in the first Steel City affair since 2019 as Blades moved joint-top. He didn’t score in any of his opening seven games since a summer free transfer switch from Stoke. But Campbell’s now blasted three in his last four outings with this crucial effort breaking Sheffield Wednesday hearts.
Twenty five years after his dad Kevin Campbell – who tragically died in June – bagged a famous Everton winner against Liverpool, he made derby memories all of his own. Wilder admitted: “It was a brilliant finish from Ty. I’m delighted he chose us. He had other options.
“He’s getting rewards for his hard work and I am because we’ve got a really talented footballer. He’s only 24. Hopefully this is just the start for him. Hopefully he can achieve all the things people said about him earlier in his career.
“Physically he was miles off it when he first came in. Our conditioners had to work on him but with the extras he’s had to do he’s gradually built up to get himself going. Off the pitch it’s been difficult as you can imagine. But there’s a player in there. And he wants to be that player.”
Wilder, whose “devastated” captain Oliver Arblaster failed to return for the second half due to a knee injury, added: “It wasn’t a game of high quality. It [derby] usually isn’t. But the result is the most important thing. And everyone can breathe now, relax and enjoy it. We’re in a good place. And to get four wins on the bounce is incredible.”
Fans had needed to wait 2,078 days to see the fierce rivals fight it out again. But after all the pre-match hype, their first meeting in five years initially looked like being a damp squib. There were no clear-cut chances in a first half which proved stop-start due to lengthy hold-ups for injuries to Marvin Johnson and Arblaster.
Arblaster tried to run off his knee injury after landing awkwardly but he didn’t return for the second period. Wednesday had not been overawed against their high-flying opponents and without their influential midfielder and leader, they may have sensed the chance to cause a shock. But Campbell put paid to that hope with his deadly finish just five minutes into the second period.
It was the game’s first true moment of attacking quality – but even that came from a poor free-kick. Owls’ Yan Valery headed away the tame set-piece but only as far as Gustavo Hamer on the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder showed trickery to evade the onrushing defence before subtly slipping in Callum O’Hare who immediately touched onto Campbell.
The big striker didn’t hesitate with his excellent left-footed finish to send home fans in a capacity crowd of 31,127 delirious. Owls tried to muster a response but failed to trouble Michael Cooper and didn’t manage a single effort on target. Anthony Musaba made a brilliant driving run moments after coming on but his shot was superbly blocked by Sydie Peck. Dominic Orfa should have scored from the resultant corner but badly stabbed over from close range.
Owls boss Danny Rohl, whose side had lost just once in their previous five games, rued: “It’s a tough one. I think no team deserved it. Both teams fought and tried but neither team was calm on the ball. You have to take the draw.
“But one moment they scored and that was the difference between the top and middle of the table. I was hoping we’d get one lucky moment when it came to finishing but we didn’t. We didn’t create anything.”
