The Blades have only collected 13 points from 25 Premier League games after losing 5-0 to Brighton on Sunday afternoon at home.
Sheffield Wednesday, on the other side of the Steel City, is also fighting for their own relegation, but after two victories in their previous three Championship games, Danny Rohl’s team is only four points outside of safety.
Ike Ugbo and Anthony Musaba’s goals in the first half helped the Owls overcome Millwall 2-0 at the Den on Saturday, moving the Lions to within one point of the relegation zone.
The Hillsborough team has a good chance of retaining its Championship status if Wednesday can repeat its previous wins over Birmingham City and the Lions.
However, it appears inevitable that the Blades will be demoted from the Premier League, meaning that both Sheffield teams may play in the same tier the following season.
Supporters of the Owls will be fighting for their lives because Blades appear to be dropping.
One of the biggest rivalries in English football is the Steel City Derby, but the Owls and Blades haven’t faced off since a 0-0 draw at Hillsborough in March 2019.
The Blades and Owls have not played in the same tier since the 2018–19 season. The red and white half of the city enjoyed seasons in the Premier League in 2019–20 and 2020–21, while Wednesday played in League One in 2021/22 and 2022–23.
Sadly, the two games played between the Steel City rivals in the 2018–19 season ended in 0-0 draws, disappointing the followers of both teams.
However, the Blades’ 4-2 victory at Hillsborough in September 2017 makes clear why so many people find the derby to be an incredibly thrilling event.
After seeing their team fall five years short of their fierce rivals in the football hierarchy, Owls fans will be itching to play the Blades in the 2024–25 Championship campaign and possibly even claim local bragging rights.
For Blades supporters, a successful Wednesday survival attempt would be a double bonus.
This season, Blades fans are facing challenges in the Premier League. They have not witnessed their team win at Bramall Lane since their team defeated Brentford 1-0 on December 9.
Even if the Owls, Rohl’s team’s bitter rivals in Steel City, could possibly be demoted at the end of the season, supporters of Chris Wilder’s team may find some solace in that fact given their recent performance.
The Blades aim to maintain their record of being the last team to win the Steel City Derby, but the Owls could challenge them if both teams play in the same division the following season.
Conversely, Owls supporters will be itching to win a derby for the first time since the two teams’ League One meeting in 2012, when the Owls prevailed 1-0 at Hillsborough.
