Derby delight as Wilson makes triumphant return

The Reds marked their manager’s first return to Bramall Lane since being sacked by the Blades in the Spring of 2013 with a 1-0 victory.

Sam Winnall netted the all-important goal on an afternoon when another all-Yorkshire affair in the third tier also went the way of the visiting team as Doncaster Rovers hit back from behind to triumph 2-1 against Bradford City at Valley Parade.

For Wilson, a second derby victory in three weeks – the Reds beat Bradford 3-1 on October 12 – was enough to take the South Yorkshire club into the top half of the table for the first time since August.

He said: “It was a typical derby game and after the run United had been on, it was always going to be a difficult game. But I felt we coped very, very well.

“We thought the Bradford win might be a result that made us kick-on, but we then had a bit of bad luck in games.

“Anyone who saw us the previous week against Bristol City (in a 2-2 draw) will know we were exceptional, and how we didn’t get all three points, I don’t know.

“But it was different this time. We took our chance when it came along. Overall, I would say that performance against United had been coming after those previous few games.

“Yes, we had to dig in at the end and defend for our lives. But I believe this win will give us a great boost in confidence.

“The division is very tight. The ones you would expect to be up there, the bigger clubs like Sheffield United and Bristol City, are up there. They have spent (money) and expect to be in the top six.

“From our point of view, we hope to be in there. If we keep churning out results like that, we will have a chance.”

On returning to the club he managed for 106 games and took to within a whisker of promotion from League One via the play-offs, Wilson added: “This is a great club and it was fantastic to come back.

“I haven’t changed my opinion on that. I enjoyed my time here but we move on and I am enjoying my time at Barnsley.”

The joy felt by the Barnsley players and the 2,961 fans who travelled to the Lane was in stark contrast to that of the home side.

Manager Nigel Clough said: “We are not too unhappy with the majority of the game, just the result.

“The final ball or our play in the final third was lacking. We got enough of the ball out to (Jamie) Murphy and (Jamal) Campbell-Ryce, but we could not quite get that killer cross.

“It was such a fine margin but then we didn’t deal with the corner (that Winnall headed in for the winner). Ninety-five per cent of it (the performance) was very good. Someone didn’t pick up (his man) and we lost the game. It was one error.”

Clough now has to decide whether to extend Paddy McCarthy’s loan stay from Crystal Palace after the defender’s initial stay ended with the Barnsley loss.

“It will depend on the Cup and if we get permission for Paddy to play,” said the Blades chief. “Our next two games are in the FA Cup and JPT. The Doncaster game (on November 15) after that is in doubt (due to Rovers having three internationals in their squad) so it could be three weeks until our next league game.”

At Valley Parade, meanwhile, Paul Dickov was able to celebrate his 42nd birthday in style after Curtis Main netted a dramatic winner for Doncaster.

The Scot said: “I said before the game it would only be a happy birthday if we got a result so I was delighted.

“You have to give Bradford a lot of credit. They came out on the front foot, as Phil (Parkinson) said they would before the game, and caused us a few problems.”

City chief Parkinson, in contrast, felt his side had been unfortunate to lose a third derby in three weeks after earlier defeats to Barnsley and the Blades.

The City chief, who is ready to loan out striker Aaron Mclean in order to release funds to bring in fresh faces, added: “It was smash and grab from Doncaster.

“We played really, really well in the first half and some of the football was excellent. We lost our way a bit with Jonathan Stead coming off when we were just reorganising.

“But, all in all, we had enough opportunities to win the game.

“We have lost a few times at home when we have not deserved anything, but this was not the case.

“We have to make sure we remain positive with the players.”