Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday players come together during the derbyShutterstock

The match was a feisty encounter with both teams having players sent off

Ian Woodcock
BBC Sport, Yorkshire at Bramall Lane

Ten-man Sheffield United held on to claim a derby victory that consigned administration-hit Sheffield Wednesday to relegation from the Championship.

The hosts took the lead inside 90 seconds when Patrick Bamford finished clinically after dreadful defending from the Owls, and Harrison Burrows made it 2-0 with a composed strike.

It looked like the Blades could run up a big score, but England international Kalvin Phillips was sent off shortly after the restart for catching Svante Ingelsson high on the follow-through in a tackle, and Charlie McNeil quickly reduced the arrears.

Wednesday, who have been deducted 18 points this season, needed a win to stave off their inevitable relegation and committed more men forward to try and at least get an equaliser, but Gabriel Otegbayo was sent off in the 90th minute as they fell to a 10th straight league defeat.

With 13 matches to play, this is the earliest a team has been relegated in English Football League history.

Henrik Pedersen's men remain on -7 points and will now turn their on-pitch attentions to trying to avoid becoming the first team to finish in negative points, while hoping a takeover can be completed soon.

United almost pay for more ill-discipline

It seemed inconceivable at half-time that this game would end with the home side keeping the ball near the corner flag to see the result over the line.

The Blades had been in total control of the match and looked likely to add to their two-goal lead before Phillips' red card totally changed the complexion and intensity of the match.

With the Owls needing a miracle and the home side in total control, the game seemed to be drifting, but the 30-year-old's rash challenge, for which he will now serve a three-match ban, changed the atmosphere on the pitch and in the stands entirely.

Wednesday had not scored a goal away from home since 20 December, but quickly got on the scoresheet through McNeil and briefly threatened to turn this game on its head.

The home side weathered the storm, though, and both Tyrese Campbell and the tireless Sydie Peck had a chance to wrap up the points in the closing moments only to be denied by Seny Dieng in the visiting goal.

Chris Wilder's side are now within six points of the play-offs in 14th place but must do something to improve their on-field discipline, with five red cards received since the start of the year.

Wednesday look to avoid more unwanted history

Henrik Pedersen with eyes closedPA

Henrik Pedersen has only overseen one Championship win this season

Wednesday's day could not have got off to a worse start as Joel Ndala's awful clearance with just over a minute on the clock landed at the feet of Hamer 30 yards out, and he slid in Bamford to score with a calm finish.

It could have been 2-0 soon after when Callum O'Hare drove forward and hit a shot that struck the outside of the post, and Japhet Tanganga crashed a shot over the bar after a neat free-kick routine.

United did double their lead when Bamford and Peck linked up neatly before the latter sent Burrows in on goal to finish with aplomb.

Thereafter, they cruised through to the break, something that they were nearly made to pay for in the hectic 40 minutes that followed Phillips' red card.

The Owls' depleted numbers were further hampered by veteran defender Liam Cooper and Crystal Palace loanee Tayo Adaramola going off injured.

They travel to Norwich City on Wednesday night aiming to avoid a Championship record 11th straight defeat.

They are also in danger of breaking a number of other EFL records, including the fewest goals in a season, the fewest wins in a 46-game season, and becoming the first team to go a whole season without a home win.

'We blew them away' - Sheff Utd reaction

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We blew them away with a big start. We talked about our start against Stoke, Leicester, Birmingham, Ipswich and even Middlesbrough - they're top sides - and we blew the opposition away.

"After that 20, 25-minute period, we started taking an extra touch or looking for that killer ball too much instead of what we'd done in the first 20 minutes which was open them up and give them no opportunities to get a foothold in the game.

"We spoke at half-time about the eventualities of what can happen if we don't approach it in the right way. We talked before about we're in complete control of this day and if we lose control, they're game and have a puncher's chance.

"And we gave them an opportunity with a decision Kalvin (Phillips) made. You can't say it was anything but a red card and on top of that, a great finish to get them back in the game. Then it was game on.

"Then we had to show the different qualities, even though they never really opened us up apart from a couple of little forays we dealt with comfortably."

Wilder: 'We blew them away with a big start'

'The boys did everything' - Sheff Wed reaction

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen said:

"It was a tough day and we made the mountain bigger. Again the boys showed that they will stand together.

"They worked very hard to get back into it, we invested a lot. At 2-0 after 20 minutes you thought it could be a long day in the office today.

"The boys kept the organisation and lifted their chests up again. We changed a few things at half-time and were much stronger.

"We all believed and hoped that we could make the second goal and the boys did everything.

"The boys did everything that they could but it was not enough today."

Pedersen: 'We gave ourselves a very big mountain to climb'

Player of the match

P. Bamford
7.09
45 P. Bamford
7.09
14 H. Burrows
6.83
42 S. Peck
6.75
10 C. O'Hare
6.59
6 T. Bindon
6.49
1 M. Cooper
6.20
11 A. Brooks
6.19
2 J. Tanganga
6.18
8 G. Hamer
6.09
38 F. Seriki
5.98
23 T. Campbell
5.49
4 O. Arblaster
5.44
5 L. Hjelde
5.36
27 K. Phillips
5.29
18 D. Soumaré
5.23
12 K. Hoever
5.17
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