New Sheffield United signing Arturo Lupoli maybe claiming a debut goal in the Sheffield derby but it seems he should continue to let his football do the talking after an embarrassing set of pre and post match quotes.
In the build up to the Bramall Lane clash he was quoted in the Yorkshire Post as stating "Sheffield is a big city with a lot of supporters and both teams are fighting for something-United for promotion and Wednesday to be safe. There is no question that United have better quality in their side."
Despite this ill-judged rant coming back to bite the blades sorely on the bum on Saturday Lupoli was not finished there and had more negative words to say. In today's Sun quotes attributed to the player include "It was more a fighting game than a football game but we knew to expect that. They were not looking to play nice."
Maybe it will be too painful for him to watch a re-run of the game but if he does get the opportunity then he might just find, as many of his clubs supporters have admitted, that Wednesday were the team trying to play football on the deck and at times looked comfortable and composed. If his own teams tactics hadn't been to try and kick or as in many cases throw the ball as far as possible to two tiny strikers then he might have got more joy?
It seems the foot-in-mouth disease has not been restricted to the Italian as Blades Captain on the day was said to have commented on BBC Radio Sheffield that the three points will help the owls in their bid to avoid relegation. A Wednesday side that have rarely been lower than mid-table throughout the season and are closer to their expensively assembled city rivals than they are to the relegation zone with a game in hand.
Under fire United boss Kevin Blackwell also bemoaned his side's lack of fortune with shots going wide rather than on target???? And stating that his keeper had very little to do - he did however have to pick the ball out of the net twice and other than the save from Sharp near the end Lee Grant wasn't exactly over extended by a top six side playing in a home derby.