Derby delight for Blue and White side of Sheffield

Last updated : 20 January 2008 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday supporters may well have woken up today nursing hangovers after celebrating a first league win against their city rivals since 2002.

Goals from Akpo Sodje and Marcus Tudgay earned the Owls all three points and deservedly so. Wednesday were clearly on top in the first half with Sodje proving too much of a handful for former Owls Bromby and it was no surprise when he turned in Jermaine Johnson's low cross from close range midway through the 1st half. Johnson gave Blades full-back Chris Armstrong a torrid time in the first 45 minutes and only a fine save from Paddy Kenny to keep out an acrobatic effort from Marcus Tudgay prevented Wednesday from extending their lead on the stroke of half-time.

United started the second half brighter but other than a deflected effort well saved by Grant and a good header by Hulse cleared off the line by Whelan, their pressure didn't produce clear cut chances and whittled away as the half went on. Billy Sharp thought he had got his 1st Championship goal with 15 minutes to go but the blades fan was rightly flagged offside and moments later Tudgay produced a fine volley after good work by substitute Leon Clarke to wrap up the points to the delight of the 30,000+ crowd in side Hillsborough and Wednesday fans everywhere.

Clarke could well have put more gloss on the score line, wasting two good chances either side of the Tudgay goal and Wednesday eased to victory from this point to pull 4 points clear of the Championship relegation zone and just 4 points behind their bitter rivals with a game in hand.