Sheffield United took four points off Sheffield Wednesday and finished five places higher last season.
Former Premier League referee Keith Hackett has told Sheffield Live TV that Sheffield United are leading his beloved Sheffield Wednesday in ways other than on the pitch.
United took four points off Wednesday and finished five places higher last season – their first in six at Championship level.
In doing so, the Blades have given themselves a platform to progress even further next term, whereas the Owls still have work to do if they are to become a promotion challenging force again.
Discussing the fortunes of Jos Luhukay’s side – who showed glimpses of their past form with key players back in the final weeks of last season – Hackett said: “Some of the football was awful to watch (last season). I can remember being a guest of a company (at one Sheffield Wednesday game) and I said to the guys at half-time, ‘if I wasn’t here helping you I’d be on my way home’.
“Wednesday have got some work to do. I think as a club they are not as attached to the spectators as Sheffield United are with theirs.”
Elaborating further, the 73-year-old Sheffielder added: “What we want to see is a bit of pace in the game and we want so see some attacking football. The times I saw them they seemed to be facing the wrong way – and the seats should have been facing the other way.
“At the end of the day, the game is about entertainment and the fans wanna be entertained – they want value for money and they want a degree of connection with the club.
“I think Sheffield United do more in connecting with the fans, and talking to the fans and communicating with the fans, and I have to say that sadly I think that’s missing a bit (at Sheffield Wednesday). So people like me, who ought to be dyed in the wool blue and white drift and get more enjoyment watching Penistone Church and Stocksbridge Works.”
Hackett retired from professional refereeing in 1994 and went on to become general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Board, now the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
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