Sheff Wed completed a derby double over United after Marcus Tudgay's cracker secured a 2-1 win.
Blades suffer first home defeat by rivals in over 40 years
Sheffield Wednesday completed a derby double over United for the first time in 95 years after Marcus Tudgay's cracker secured a 2-1 win at Bramall Lane.
Brian Laws' Owls enjoyed a 1-0 success on home soil earlier this season and were indebted to Tudgay's stunning goal which clinched a first win at their local rivals in over 40 years.
The visitors enjoyed a dream start when taking the lead inside the first minute after Tommy Spurr lashed home a shot from the edge of the box.
But the Blades were level just four minutes later when new signing Arturo Lupoli marked his debut with a goal as his header hit the underside of the bar and bounced over the line.
Tudgay settled the feisty contest just before the half-hour mark as he ran at the home defence before letting fly with a searing shot from 25 yards which flew into the top corner.
The Blades made just one change to the side that won at Southampton in midweek, with Lupoli starting in place of the suspended Darius Henderson.
The Owls were unchanged, but there was no return to the bench for striker Akpo Sodje, out since November with a knee injury.
Inside the first minute Owls midfielder Michael Gray weaved his way into the penalty area and pulled the ball back for the unmarked Spurr to slam home the opening goal for the visitors.
But within four minutes the Blades were level. Greg Halford's long throw-in arced its way to the six-yard box and Lupoli - surrounded by Owls defenders - somehow managed to get his head to the ball and steer it home via the crossbar.
Referee Mark Halsey checked with his assistant and was given the clearest of signals that all of the ball had crossed the goalline.
Spectacular equaliser
Nick Montgomery, acting captain in the absence of hamstring victim Chris Morgan, flashed a volley inches wide 10 minutes later and Leigh Bromby went close to scoring against his former club with a volley of his own.
But Wednesday regained the lead in spectacular fashion in the 29th minute.
Owls striker Tudgay found himself in space 30 yards from goal and set himself up to launch his rocket into the top corner for the visitors' second.
The Owls almost doubled their advantage five minutes after the restart.
Tudgay headed on a throw-in and big striker Leon Clarke's volley from 10 yards smashed back off the post.
The Blades hurried and harried, but made little headway and by the 70th minute a section of the notoriously hard-to-please Bramall Lane boo-boys began taking their angst out on Blackwell.
United's local favourite Billy Sharp replaced Webber in the 73rd minute and then Blackwell sent on Lee Hendrie for Brian Howard.
Hendrie made an instant impact, playing in Jamie Ward in the area, but Gray's brilliant interception thwarted the little forward.
Sharp almost snatched an equaliser with a smart turn and shot in the dying moments, but Grant flung himself at the ball to turn it over for a corner and Wednesday were left to celebrate a famous victory.
