Sodje Sinks Blunt Blades

Last updated : 21 January 2008 By @blades_mad1889

Sheffield Wednesday won their first all City derby against their rivals for t5he first time since September 2002, when on that day they also won 2-0 with goals from Lloyd Owusu and Sheftki Kuqi.

The Owls went into the game with just one win from seven whilst the Blades, won expected a victory from this game was unbeaten in the year 2008 before they travelled to Hillsborough.

But the visitors were exposed early on as Jermaine Johnson caused trouble throughout the first half, the former Bradford City winger fed through Marcus Tudgay but his shot spat over the bar as the home side carved out their first chance.

And, on 17th minute Johnson once again proved to be the catalyst in an Owls attack, his right footed shot forced Paddy Kenny to tip over the bar.

Eight minutes later the breakthrough came when the Jamaican international once again caused chaos down the right hand side, his marker Chris Armstrong gave him freedom of the City as allowed him to sweep in a low cross - Kenny couldn't clear as unmarked Akpo Sodje pounced to fire home from close range.

With only Rob Hulse up front all by himself the Blades struggled to create chances but on-loan winger Lee Martin plucked out Michael Tonge twelve yards from goal but was cleared following his miss-kick.

United did create some chances in the first half and was handed an opportunity on a plate when centre-half Mark Beevers was dispossesed by David Carney - the Australian picked out Tonge who struck just past the far post with no one running in.

At half time Blades boss Bryan Robson rung in the changes as he brought on Keith Gillespie and Billy Sharp for David Carney and Nick Montgomery, and the visitors looked unstoppable in the first fifth teen minutes.

And when a corner was delivered by Martin the away side looked to have levelled the score when Hulse's towering header was blunded off the line by a confused Glenn Whelan.

On the 69th minute the Owls spurned a chance to double their lead as Johnson and Tudgay connected to put Leon Clarke through but his lazy shot went straight to Kenny without causing a problem.

But with 14 minutes left of the game it was game set and match as they did double their lead, Johnson produced a long throw which was knocked on by substitute Clarke who found Marcus Tudgay before volleying into the roof of the net.