SPICY is perhaps the best word to describe Sheffield United's last few games against Wrexham at Bramall Lane.

Both clubs were fined by the FA for failing to control their players during the end of their last meeting, a Carabao Cup tie in August 2024.

The previous meeting was also highly-charged.

Chris Wilder watched that from afar in early 2023 - he was between jobs - as his boyhood side prevailed 3-1 in an FA Cup replay.

Chris Wilder manager of Sheffield United appeals during the Sheffield United vs West Bromwich Albion Sky Bet Championship match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture: Simon Bellis / Sportimage

placeholder image — Chris Wilder manager of Sheffield United appeals during the Sheffield United vs West Bromwich Albion Sky Bet Championship match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture: Simon Bellis / Sportimage

The night saw ex-Blades captain Billy Sharp land himself in hot water following comments he made after the tie. The game ended with a kerfuffle in the tunnel.

With the stakes high ahead of this latest meeting with seventh-placed Wrexham - who won the reverse fixture 5-3 - able to effectively end the Blades' lingering hopes of nicking a top-six place, it has the potential for theatre once again.

As far as Wilder is concerned, a bit of an edge in a game is no bad thing. But he insists there is no bad blood between himself and the staff at Wrexham, who he knows very well. What is present is plenty of mutual respect.

Wilder, who started out as an apprentice at Southampton alongside Wrexham chief Phil Parkinson, said: "I watched it (the cup tie) from afar, I thought it was great on both sides.

Wilder started his playing career at Southampton with Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.

"It was a top Championship side going head-to-head with a team on the rise. I enjoyed watching it and the friction between both clubs.

"I think that's healthy in football, as long as it doesn't overstep. And it certainly won't overstep from me, Phil and Al (Alan Knill) and Steve (Parkin) that we've got a lot of history between us - whether it's our (previous) battles against Bolton or knowing the guys personally.

"It won't overspill and be carried on in the manager's office afterwards. Wrexham deserve their position in the division through what they've done, especially the run that they've been on since they played us.

"It's a formidable opponent that we've got to try and overcome."

What is certain is that visiting forward Josh Windass is likely to cop a fair bit of stick from home punters for his connections across the city at Sheffield Wednesday.

Windass scored in the Red Dragons' Boxing Day win over the Blades. Earlier on in the season, he did not exactly endear himself to Unitedites either after suggesting they overdid the celebrations in their league win at Hillsborough last autumn - he was a studio guest for Sky Sports.

Intriguingly, Windass' representatives actually explored the possibility of him making a cross-city switch when he made it known he would be leaving the Owls amid the financial maelstrom at S6 last summer.

The Blades chief added: "I know his dad well and I think that would have been a possibility. He enjoyed Sheffield and wanted to progress his career.

"There were all sorts of little things flying about. But nothing ever concrete really. So he had to look after his career and he's had a decent one.

"He's had some really good moves and played for some big clubs.

"It was a difficult situation. So I'll never criticise any of those (Sheffield Wednesday) boys because they have to look after their careers and their families as well. And it was ultimately a really poor situation that the players were put in.

"He is a player I really like; he's a really good footballer. He's smart, he creates and scores as well.

"He's a bright footballer. And I'm not surprised there was interest in Josh in the summer. And I should imagine it would have been more than one club."