Championship · Matchday 12 · Bramall Lane
Sheffield Utd v Derby
Sheffield United are eleventh on fifteen points from eleven, and a win would give them back-to-back league victories for the first time this season — their record reads four wins, three draws and four defeats, with no two wins yet falling together. Derby are twenty-third on six points, with one win all season and three draws, and have lost three of their last five. Neither side creates much: Sheffield United average 1.06 expected goals a game and Derby 0.96. The difference is what they concede, 1.49 against 1.69, and on that evidence this is a game about which defence blinks rather than which attack fires.
Before kick-off: how the two teams stand
Sheffield Utd 4W 3D 4L · 15 points
| DH v Birmingham | 0-0 |
| DA v Swansea | 0-0 |
| DA v Cardiff | 2-2 |
| WH v Bolton | 3-2 |
| LH v Norwich | 1-3 |
| WA v Blackburn | 2-1 |
| LH v Wolves | 0-1 |
| LA v Stoke City | 1-2 |
| WH v Lincoln | 3-0 |
| LA v Portsmouth | 2-3 |
| WA v Bristol City | 1-0 |
Derby 1W 3D 7L · 6 points
| LA v Charlton | 1-2 |
| DH v Cardiff | 2-2 |
| LH v Swansea | 0-3 |
| WA v Portsmouth | 2-0 |
| LA v West Ham | 0-3 |
| LH v West Brom | 0-1 |
| LH v Birmingham | 1-2 |
| DA v Burnley | 1-1 |
| DH v Wrexham | 1-1 |
| LA v QPR | 1-4 |
| LH v Stoke City | 0-1 |
League matches completed before this fixture. Figures are correct as at kick-off and are not updated during the match.
Chris Wilder was asked about facing a side in Derby’s position, and said the Rams’ injury list does not make it a straightforward afternoon:
“I always like the games against Derby. We’ve had some really good games against them.”
He also framed the season his opposite number is having as among the hardest in the division. John Eustace, for his part, told Derbyshire Live that one of his players faces roughly twelve or thirteen weeks out, and set the tone for the run his side are on:
“When we’re in trouble, this is where the Derby County family has got to stick together and not look for any excuses.”
The recent meetings have been close and have not run one way. The Sheffield Star notes Sheffield United have won three of the last four against Derby; our own records hold six meetings since 2021, four to Sheffield United and two to Derby — including a 3-1 Derby win at Bramall Lane in November 2025, before Sheffield United took the return 2-1 last May.
Live commentary
Commentary updates automatically below — no need to refresh the page.
ARCHIVE Match commentary archive · 61 updates
SCORE1·179'
90+8'fulltimeFull-time, After a dramatic final few minutes, Derby somehow claim a point at the end of this one
90+6'sub🔄 F. Bilbija replaced D. Ozoh
90+5'commentShot — Sheffield Utd, Hows it not gone in! Phillips cuts it back for Peck, who's shot is saved by Zetterstrom. Burrows follows in, and his shot is also smothered by the Derby keeper. Campbell then volleys over from just yards out!
90+4'card🟨 Yellow for Bobby Clark for a foul on Seriki
90+1'commentShot — Sheffield Utd, What an unbelievable save from Zetterstrom! Campbell takes a good first touch and volleys it towards the corner, the ball bobbles up off of the wet surface and Zetterstrom somehow claws it onto the crossbar and away.
90+1'comment7 added on
90'commentMOTM is Bobby Clark
89'commentShot — Sheffield Utd, Peck from outside the box shoots straight at Zetterstrom who holds onto the ball well. Moments earlier Campbell fizzed one across the goalmouth with Chong unable to get a deciding touch
86'commentShot — Sheffield Utd, Chance for Tanganga but his volley is well blocked by Nyambe
84'commentCorner — Sheffield Utd, Donovan's cross deflects behind for a corner
81'sub🔄 L. Salvesen replaced J. Ward
81'sub🔄 T. Campbell replaced P. Bamford
79'goalBrilliant cross in from Donovan is smuggled home by Bamford past Zetterstrom. Bamford rolls around in pain after scoring which brings the home support from celebration to silence
79'goal⚽ Bamford smuggles home an equaliser!
79'score1-1
78'commentCorner — Sheffield Utd, another corner..
77'commentCorner — Sheffield Utd, the initial corner is recycled to Donovan on the edge of the box, his powerful strike is well saved by Zetterstrom
77'commentCorner — Sheffield Utd, initial one headed back behind by Morris
77'commentCorner — Sheffield Utd, won by Donovan
76'card🟨 Yellow card for Sydie Peck
72'sub🔄 S. Szmodics, R. Brewster and the injured H. Meister are replaced by former Sheffield United player Jack Robinson, Max Johnston and O. Fraulo
67'sub🔄 T. Cannon and B. Brereton make way for J. Ayew and R. Donovan
67'commentD. Sanderson two stupid challenges to get two soft yellows making it a red . OFF
66'card🟥 RED CARD — Sanderson is sent off for a second yellow for stopping a Sheffield United counter. Very silly from the centre-back, a challenge he didn't need to make
65'commentDerby win a corner from the free kick after Seriki heads behind
64'card🟨 Yellow card for Liam Kitching for a foul on Ozoh
61'commentFree kick — Sheffield Utd, Chong is fouled near to the right touchline level with the penalty area
58'commentShot — Sheffield Utd, B. Brereton shoots just over from range
57'sub🔄 O. Arblaster and H. Choudhury are replaced by Sydie Peck and F. Seriki
50'card🟨 Sanderson yellow card for a foul on Chong
HTkickoffKick-off for the second half
45+5'halftimeHalf-time, 0-1
45+1'comment4 added on
39'commentA moderately breezy afternoon is now "Storm ........ battering the stadium " according to this commentator .
38'goalMeister holds off Phillips to find Morris who spreads it wide to Szmodics. He plays in Hedges on the overlap who hits the near post, but it fortuitously rolls into the path of Clark who clinically finishes into an unguarded net. 0-1
38'goal⚽ Bobby Clark gives Derby a deserved lead!
36'commentShot — Derby, Big chance for Derby again. Lovely ball over the top from Clark finds Meister. The flag stays down and Meister volleyed too close to Cooper
37'score0-1
35'commentShot — Derby, Ward chases a ball down the right hand side and whips a delicious cross into the box which is headed only as far as Bobby Clark by Phillips. Bobby Clark's volley aiming towards the bottom corner is well saved by Cooper
33'commentBamford down holding his shoulder. Has been down for 5 minutes but should be able to continue
27'commentCorner — Derby, again after Bamford headed behind
26'commentAnother corner for Derby after Cooper punched the inital one behind
25'commentCorner — Derby
22'commentCorner — Derby, Hedges' cross is headed behind by Burrows
18'card🟨 Yellow card for Nyambe after a foul on Bamford
16'commentQuiet start in the opening 15 minutes with Sheffield United happy to let Derby have the ball. Sheffield United have been applying more pressure in the last few minutes
15'commentCorner — Sheffield Utd, Phillips' cross from the second phase headed behind by Sanderson this time
14'commentCorner — Sheffield Utd, Good ball in from Burrows headed behind by Nyambe
12:30kickoffKick-off at Bramall Lane
12:30commentafternoon
12:25commentDerby lead the Championship this season for high turnovers (99), and are joint-second for shot-ending high turnovers (16), though they’re yet to score from such a situation this term.
12:24commentDerby have won just one of their last 12 league games (D3 L8), including none of their previous seven (D2 L5), while no side has failed to score in more different Championship games this season than the Rams (4).
12:24commentSheffield United have won two of their last three league games (L1), as many as in their opening eight league games to begin 2026-27 (D3 L3).
12:24commentAfter winning this exact fixture 3-1 last season, Derby County will be looking to win successive away league games against Sheffield United for the first time since October 1958.
12:23commentSheffield United have won five of their last seven league games against Derby County (L2), conceding just two goals in total across those five victories.
12:20commentDERBY TEAM NEWS: Zetterstrom replaces Vickers in goal after returning from injury. Captain Lewis Travis is out with injury and is replaced by former blade Rhian Brewster, H. Meister also replaces Fuseini who drops to the bench. Max Johnston and Mowatt return to the bench after injuries. Eiran Cashin, Matt Clarke, Sondre Langas, Patrick Agyemang, Derry Murkin, Craig Forsyth and Charlie Taylor all remain out.
12:11commentSHEFFIELD UNITED TEAM NEWS: 2 changes from 1-0 victory over Bristol City. H. Choudhury comes straight back in after returning from suspension and replaces the injured Mark McGuinness who drops out the squad. P. Bamford replaces J. Ayew who drops to the bench. Femi Seriki returns to the bench after recovering from injury. Ryan One and Matt Doherty remain out.
12:06commentDerby Bench: F. Bilbija, J. Robinson, L. Salvesen, M. Fuseini, A. Mowatt, M. Johnston, O. Fraulo, J. Vickers, C. Blackett-Taylor
12:05commentSheffield United Bench: S. McCallum, J. Rothwell, J. Ayew, R. Donovan, T. Campbell, T. Betts, J. Baptiste, F. Seriki, Sydie Peck
12:01commentTeam news. Sheffield Utd (4-2-3-1): 1 M. Cooper, 5 J. Tanganga (C), 14 H. Burrows, 15 L. Kitching, 4 O. Arblaster, 8 H. Choudhury, 27 K. Phillips, 9 T. Cannon, 19 T. Chong, 22 B. Brereton, 45 P. Bamford. Derby (4-2-3-1): 1 J. Widell Zetterström, 24 R. Nyambe, 28 D. Sanderson, 4 D. Ozoh, 8 B. Clark, 11 S. Szmodics, 23 J. Ward, 9 C. Morris, 10 R. Brewster, 19 H. Meister, 26 R. Hedges. Michael Cooper and Jacob Widell Zetterström in goal. Sheffield United are chasing back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.edited
11:49score0-0
What the models say
Both models point the same way this time, which was not true of Friday night. The outcome model makes it 59.0% Sheffield United, 22.4% Derby and 18.7% a draw — its firmest call on either side in this round. The goals model is more cautious about the same conclusion: working from about 1.55 goals for Sheffield United and 1.03 for Derby, it gives 49.7% Sheffield United, 25.3% Derby and 25.1% the draw.
That gap between them is the interesting part. The goals model leaves a quarter of the probability on a draw because it expects so few goals: 65.4% that the match finishes within one goal, 52.5% that it stays under 2.5, and both teams to score at almost exactly even money, 50.3%. The three likeliest scorelines are 1-0 (12.0%), 1-1 (11.9%) and 2-1 (9.4%). Neither model knows who is fit.
Match Prediction
The table before kick-off
Match commentary timeline
Auto-generated from live commentary. 61 entries between kickoff and full-time.
14′ comment Corner — Sheffield Utd, Good ball in from Burrows headed behind by Nyambe
15′ comment Corner — Sheffield Utd, Phillips’ cross from the second phase headed behind by Sanderson this time
16′ comment Quiet start in the opening 15 minutes with Sheffield United happy to let Derby have the ball. Sheffield United have been applying more pressure in the last few minutes
18′ card 🟨 Yellow card for Nyambe after a foul on Bamford
22′ comment Corner — Derby, Hedges’ cross is headed behind by Burrows
25′ comment Corner — Derby
26′ comment Another corner for Derby after Cooper punched the inital one behind
27′ comment Corner — Derby, again after Bamford headed behind
33′ comment Bamford down holding his shoulder. Has been down for 5 minutes but should be able to continue
35′ comment Shot — Derby, Ward chases a ball down the right hand side and whips a delicious cross into the box which is headed only as far as Bobby Clark by Phillips. Bobby Clark’s volley aiming towards the bottom corner is well saved by Cooper
36′ comment Shot — Derby, Big chance for Derby again. Lovely ball over the top from Clark finds Meister. The flag stays down and Meister volleyed too close to Cooper
37′ score 0-1
38′ goal ⚽ Bobby Clark gives Derby a deserved lead!
38′ goal Meister holds off Phillips to find Morris who spreads it wide to Szmodics. He plays in Hedges on the overlap who hits the near post, but it fortuitously rolls into the path of Clark who clinically finishes into an unguarded net. 0-1
39′ comment A moderately breezy afternoon is now “Storm …….. battering the stadium ” according to this commentator .
HT kickoff Kick-off for the second half
45+1′ comment 4 added on
45+5′ halftime Half-time, 0-1
50′ card 🟨 Sanderson yellow card for a foul on Chong
57′ sub 🔄 O. Arblaster and H. Choudhury are replaced by Sydie Peck and F. Seriki
58′ comment Shot — Sheffield Utd, B. Brereton shoots just over from range
61′ comment Free kick — Sheffield Utd, Chong is fouled near to the right touchline level with the penalty area
64′ card 🟨 Yellow card for Liam Kitching for a foul on Ozoh
65′ comment Derby win a corner from the free kick after Seriki heads behind
66′ card 🟥 RED CARD — Sanderson is sent off for a second yellow for stopping a Sheffield United counter. Very silly from the centre-back, a challenge he didn’t need to make
67′ comment D. Sanderson two stupid challenges to get two soft yellows making it a red . OFF
67′ sub 🔄 T. Cannon and B. Brereton make way for J. Ayew and R. Donovan
72′ sub 🔄 S. Szmodics, R. Brewster and the injured H. Meister are replaced by former Sheffield United player Jack Robinson, Max Johnston and O. Fraulo
76′ card 🟨 Yellow card for Sydie Peck
77′ comment Corner — Sheffield Utd, won by Donovan
77′ comment Corner — Sheffield Utd, initial one headed back behind by Morris
77′ comment Corner — Sheffield Utd, the initial corner is recycled to Donovan on the edge of the box, his powerful strike is well saved by Zetterstrom
78′ comment Corner — Sheffield Utd, another corner..
79′ score 1-1
79′ goal ⚽ Bamford smuggles home an equaliser!
79′ goal Brilliant cross in from Donovan is smuggled home by Bamford past Zetterstrom. Bamford rolls around in pain after scoring which brings the home support from celebration to silence
81′ sub 🔄 T. Campbell replaced P. Bamford
81′ sub 🔄 L. Salvesen replaced J. Ward
84′ comment Corner — Sheffield Utd, Donovan’s cross deflects behind for a corner
86′ comment Shot — Sheffield Utd, Chance for Tanganga but his volley is well blocked by Nyambe
89′ comment Shot — Sheffield Utd, Peck from outside the box shoots straight at Zetterstrom who holds onto the ball well. Moments earlier Campbell fizzed one across the goalmouth with Chong unable to get a deciding touch
90′ comment MOTM is Bobby Clark
90+1′ comment 7 added on
90+1′ comment Shot — Sheffield Utd, What an unbelievable save from Zetterstrom! Campbell takes a good first touch and volleys it towards the corner, the ball bobbles up off of the wet surface and Zetterstrom somehow claws it onto the crossbar and away.
90+4′ card 🟨 Yellow for Bobby Clark for a foul on Seriki
90+5′ comment Shot — Sheffield Utd, Hows it not gone in! Phillips cuts it back for Peck, who’s shot is saved by Zetterstrom. Burrows follows in, and his shot is also smothered by the Derby keeper. Campbell then volleys over from just yards out!
90+6′ sub 🔄 F. Bilbija replaced D. Ozoh
90+8′ fulltime Full-time, After a dramatic final few minutes, Derby somehow claim a point at the end of this one
score 0-0
comment Team news. Sheffield Utd (4-2-3-1): 1 M. Cooper, 5 J. Tanganga (C), 14 H. Burrows, 15 L. Kitching, 4 O. Arblaster, 8 H. Choudhury, 27 K. Phillips, 9 T. Cannon, 19 T. Chong, 22 B. Brereton, 45 P. Bamford. Derby (4-2-3-1): 1 J. Widell Zetterström, 24 R. Nyambe, 28 D. Sanderson, 4 D. Ozoh, 8 B. Clark, 11 S. Szmodics, 23 J. Ward, 9 C. Morris, 10 R. Brewster, 19 H. Meister, 26 R. Hedges. Michael Cooper and Jacob Widell Zetterström in goal. Sheffield United are chasing back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
comment Sheffield United Bench: S. McCallum, J. Rothwell, J. Ayew, R. Donovan, T. Campbell, T. Betts, J. Baptiste, F. Seriki, Sydie Peck
comment Derby Bench: F. Bilbija, J. Robinson, L. Salvesen, M. Fuseini, A. Mowatt, M. Johnston, O. Fraulo, J. Vickers, C. Blackett-Taylor
comment SHEFFIELD UNITED TEAM NEWS: 2 changes from 1-0 victory over Bristol City. H. Choudhury comes straight back in after returning from suspension and replaces the injured Mark McGuinness who drops out the squad. P. Bamford replaces J. Ayew who drops to the bench. Femi Seriki returns to the bench after recovering from injury. Ryan One and Matt Doherty remain out.
comment DERBY TEAM NEWS: Zetterstrom replaces Vickers in goal after returning from injury. Captain Lewis Travis is out with injury and is replaced by former blade Rhian Brewster, H. Meister also replaces Fuseini who drops to the bench. Max Johnston and Mowatt return to the bench after injuries. Eiran Cashin, Matt Clarke, Sondre Langas, Patrick Agyemang, Derry Murkin, Craig Forsyth and Charlie Taylor all remain out.
comment Sheffield United have won five of their last seven league games against Derby County (L2), conceding just two goals in total across those five victories.
comment After winning this exact fixture 3-1 last season, Derby County will be looking to win successive away league games against Sheffield United for the first time since October 1958.
comment Sheffield United have won two of their last three league games (L1), as many as in their opening eight league games to begin 2026-27 (D3 L3).
comment Derby have won just one of their last 12 league games (D3 L8), including none of their previous seven (D2 L5), while no side has failed to score in more different Championship games this season than the Rams (4).
comment Derby lead the Championship this season for high turnovers (99), and are joint-second for shot-ending high turnovers (16), though they’re yet to score from such a situation this term.
comment afternoon
kickoff Kick-off at Bramall Lane
