Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday strikers have both enjoyed strong starts to the season.
Last month’s Steel City derby pitted two of the Championship’s most lethal strikers up against each other when Gary Hooper and Billy Sharp led the lines for their respective sides.
Sheffield Wednesday ace Hooper was the only of the two to find the scoresheet, but Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp was the one celebrating at the end of the match as the Blades stunned Hillsborough to clinch a 4-2 win.
The two players have been in form this season, and while Hooper has seven goals to Sharp’s four – the Sheffield Wednesday ace has also played in four more matches.
Sharp’s performances stand up well to Hooper, with just 0.07 goals per game ratio the difference between the two.
| Team | Shots per game | Shots on target per game | Goals per game | Scoring V Shooting Accuracy | Key Passes per game | Assists per game | Aerial Duels per game | Touches per game | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Hooper | Sheff Wed | 2.64 | 1.18 | 0.64 | 24% | 0.91 | 0 | 0.55 | 44.27 | 11 |
| Billy Sharp | Sheff Utd | 2 | 1 | 0.57 | 29% | 0.57 | 0.14 | 0.43 | 25.14 | 7 |
Sharp is the only of the two players who has provided an assist this season, although Hooper could feel slightly aggrieved at this.
Wednesday striker Hooper has created more chances per game than Blades forward Sharp, but his teammates have let him down.
Sheffield United have been the league’s surprise package this season, and entered the international break in third place.
Wednesday are five points back in 12th position, and they will need Hooper to continue his impressive form if they are to stand a chance of rising up the table and competing for the promotion places.
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