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Simeon Gholam
EFL Reporter @simgholam
Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough is live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm on Friday night, while Sheffield United head to Derby on Saturday, live from 5.15pm.
Last Updated: 17/10/18 4:53pm
Sheffield United are thriving again at the top of the Sky Bet Championship while arch-rivals Sheffield Wednesday have also enjoyed a fine start to the season.
While the Blades top the pile heading into the weekend, Wednesday find themselves in sixth, but can both maintain their form and create a battle for promotion within the Steel City?
Ahead of the return of the Championship this weekend, which sees both sides live on Sky Sports Football, we assess that very question with the help of Andy Hinchcliffe…
Luhukay’s impact
Jos Luhukay was brought in with Sheffield Wednesday labouring in the bottom half of the league in January and was immediately faced with the task of a trip to Sheffield United, from which he earned a goalless draw and went on to help the Owls secure survival.
This season there have been indications of Luhukay attempting to turn them into a slightly more direct side, and there are some clear differences between their first 12 games this season and the final 12 of Carlos Carvalhal’s reign.
Their possession, passing, passing accuracy and shots attempted numbers are all down, but their shot conversion rate has significantly increased, suggesting they have simply been more lethal in front of goal. Hinchcliffe, however, does not believe that shows the club have become any more pragmatic under Luhukay.
“I have been really impressed with Luhukay,” said Hinchcliffe. “He was brought in to put out a fire last season and keep them up and he did that. He had a reputation as a bit of a pragmatist but this season that’s been anything but the case.
“He has shown a lot of flexibility in terms of personnel and formations and he’s made plenty of changes, whereas a traditionally pragmatic coach would be more interested in continuity.”
Sheff Wed vs M’boro
October 19, 2018, 7:00pm
Live on 
A recovering squad
Arrivals at Hillsborough were minimal in the summer, due to a transfer embargo placed on the club, but Luhukay has massively benefited from a vast number of players returning from long-term injuries. It’s an old cliche but the players coming back have been as good as new signings for the Owls.
“I think a lot of people looked at them last season and then saw the lack of arrivals in the summer and assumed it would be more of the same, but they didn’t really need to sign a lot of players,” said Hinchcliffe.
“They were hit so badly by injuries last season and they just needed to get a few of them back, because when they’ve got a full squad it’s as strong as any in the Championship.”
Luhukay has also embraced the youngsters in the squad in a way Carvalhal was perhaps guilty of overlooking. 21-year-old Jordan Thorniley spent the first half of last season on loan at Accrington in League Two but was immediately thrust into Wednesday’s first team in January, while Matt Penney (20) has also excelled so far this campaign.
“Thorniley has been good and Penney has been outstanding,” continued Hinchcliffe. “Penney has played in so many different positions already and shown incredible adaptability. The important thing, though, is that Wednesday need them to be good now and they have been.”
Wednesday v United – 2018/19 so far
| First 12 games | Wednesday | United |
|---|---|---|
| Games won | 5 | 8 |
| Goals | 19 | 21 |
| Goals conceded | 18 | 13 |
| Points | 19 | 25 |
| Average possession | 47% | 53.3% |
| Shot conv rate | 15.1% | 14.4% |
Can the Owls get promoted?
Wednesday made the play-offs for two seasons in a row under Carvalhal but fell away badly in 2017/18 and it looked as though it would be more of the same this season.
They looked like they might struggle after failing to win any of their first three games, but have lost just once since in their surge back to contention.
“It’s such a flat league this season and there are so many teams that can easily finish top six,” said Hinchcliffe. “Defence will be key and you do wonder if Wednesday concede a few too many goals to make a real push for the top two, but if they can tighten up a bit and deal with the expectation that will come from their improving performances then there’s no reason they can’t make the play-offs again.”
2:27United’s key acquisitions
Whereas Wednesday have benefited from returning players, United have already had huge contributions from some of their key summer arrivals.
John Egan has helped improve their defence, Oliver Norwood has brought valuable experience from his time at Brighton and Fulham, David McGoldrick has four goals in his last four games and Dean Henderson has been excellent in goal.
1:44“The key is not just making signings but finding players that will fit into your system, and that’s exactly what they have done,” said Hinchcliffe. “Almost all of United’s summer arrivals have made an immediate impact, which is of huge credit to Wilder.
“Norwood enables others to flourish in the team. He is disciplined defensively and that allows others to push further forward but he’s also a brilliant facilitator and passer of the ball.
“Then there is McGoldrick who is keeping last season’s star man Leon Clarke out of the side. Him and Billy Sharp have excellent movement and they give teams so many problems.”
Derby vs Sheff Utd
October 20, 2018, 5:15pm
Live on
Home improvements
United were in a similar position last season, in fact they are just a point better off at this stage, but the numbers do suggest improvements have been made.
Five more goals have been scored in their first 12 games, there have been more shots taken, their conversion rate has improved and they are facing fewer shots at the other end.
Their possession, passing and passing accuracy numbers are also up, while Wilder’s side are making fewer tackles and interceptions. The Blades are dominating games more than they were this time last season and there seems to be an added level of resilience about them, as shown by recent late wins against Preston, Millwall and Hull.
Wilder shows incredible passion as a boyhood Blade, but Hinchcliffe knows there is so much more about him than that.
“An affinity for the club is never a bad thing but ultimately it doesn’t matter if you’re not a good coach who can do the job and Wilder is one of the best coaches in the Championship,” he said.
“Sometimes there can be a bit of snobbery about lower league English coaches but Wilder has brought some extraordinary tactical brilliance to this league, including such innovations as his overlapping centre-backs. These English coaches are brilliant and they are proving themselves season after season.”
Can the Blades get promoted?
Sheffield United were top in October last season but eventually fell out of the play-off places altogether. It remains to be seen whether they can last the course this time around but Hinchcliffe reckons both internal and external forces in the Championship gives them a real chance.
“There is no one quite as outstanding as Wolves or Fulham in the division this season which gives everyone more of an opportunity,” he said. “It looks like all you will have to do this season is be five per cent better than anyone else to get promoted, and Sheffield United do look like that at the moment. Wilder has taken them to another level from last season.
“I’m sure they can finish top six and if they can keep it up then they could possibly hang around in the top two.”
