Ragnar Klavan immediately showed his aggression after just 6 minutes, picking up a booking for a lunge on Michael Carrick. But after 14 minutes, new signing Pyatov kept Wednesday out with a superb save, to deny a thundering shot from Sergi Roberto after Aleix Vidal set him up.
After that, the home side began to grow into the game. Dybala was becoming more and more involved, setting up Fischer whose shot was easily saved by Kawashima after 18 minutes, before Carrick skewed high and wide a couple of minutes later.
Wednesday then made their rivals pay with an excellent goal. Eder Alvarez Balanta brought down Vidal with a reckless challenge, but from 30 yards it looked surely too far out for a shot. However, up stepped new loan signing and free-kick expert Enner Valencia. He saw Pyatov slightly off his line, and smashed in an outstanding effort to silence Brammal Lane.
This goal invigorated Wednesday, and Ragnar Klavan went close in the 30th and 32nd minutes with long shots, both well saved by Pyatov. However, just as it looked like Wednesday were going to push on and grab a deserved second goal, United equalised. Mbemba fouled Pablo Piatti, and a whipped freekick from Afellay found its way to the dangerous Pablo Dybala, whose header flew past Japanese keeper Eiji Kawashima.
After a weak shot from Guillame Gillet, United ended the half strongly. Afellay rolled a ball out to Pablo Piatti, and his shot was well saved by Kawashima in the 40th minute. Just 2 minutes later Piatti went close again. He was teed up by Diafra Sakho, but this time the ball flew past the goal and out for a goal-kick. That was the final action of a first half which had proven as entertaining as expected, with the score probably a fair reflection
Half time- Sheffield United 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
There were no changes at half time and, until the 57th minute, no action of any kind whatsoever. Sergi Roberto, who was having an impressive first match since his loan move from Barcelona, shot wide of Pyatov's post.
The pressure was starting to mount on United and, in the 61st minute, Wednesday regained their lead. Enner Valencia ran forward and curled a beautiful cross right into the path of Spanish winger Aleix Vidal. Vidal collected the ball, 1 on 1 with the keeper, and slotted past Pyatov with ease. Powell jumped off the bench with delight, and the Jessice Ennis Stand was sent into raptures after a well-taken goal.
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| Vidal wheels off after restoring the lead |
However, in the 66th minute, a moment of madness from Ragnar Klavan, newly appointed captain,saw the pressure right back on Wednesday. The Estonian, a recent arrival from Augsburg, brought down Diafra Sakho, and the referee showed no sympathy, sending the defender off for a 2nd bookable offence. Powell was left fuming after the incident, and rumours coming out of training suggest that Klavan may have already lost the captain's armband, with Andres Guardado favourite to replace his fellow new signing.
Despite this setback, Wednesday didn't allow United back into it and, in fact, didn't allow them a single shot in the entire second half. Enner Valencia went close to a 2nd after 84 minutes, with Pyatov then making another save in the 89th to deny Vidal. The full-time whistle went, and Wednesday had achieved the kind of victory which good sides achieve. Despite going down to 10 men for a long time, they had dominated the game, and earnt a crucial 3 points.
Match Stats
Score- Sheffield United 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Possession- 43%-57%
Total Shots- 10-15
Shots on Target- 3-11
Corners- 0-13
Yellow Cards- 0-1
Red Cards- 0-1
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