Evans was an unused substitute that afternoon at Hillsborough and remembers it clearly. “The derby was an awesome experience, ” the striker says. “Great for Duffs, probably one of the highlights of his career. “For him to score straight after their goal was pretty awesome. That is why it is great to have him and Couttsy here now. Couttsy has undoubted quality on the ball. He calms things down, whereas Duffs always creates. “In the summer (of 2019 when Coutts left Sheffield United), I had a few phone calls off him.
He has been Fleetwood’s captain since arriving at the start of last season and his renowned passing radar is clearly very much in working order, as is an innate ability to sense danger and stop attacks. Playing alongside Coutts for the first hour was Duffy. The pair’s understanding in midfield bordered on telepathic at times, each seeming to know exactly where the other would be. Former Blades Years at Sheff UtdAppearancesGoalsPaul Coutts2014-191365Ched Evans2009-12, 2017-1812648Mark Duffy2016-1912115Leon Clarke2016-20209632Ethan Ebanks-Landell2016-17345 Duffy is also clearly getting used to his other Fleetwood team-mates. His precise touch and vision when exchanging passes with full-back Danny Andrew wide on the left in the 25th minute deserved the precise finish that followed moments later from Evans.
That much was apparent shortly before kick-off when Evans made a point of walking 30 yards to touch elbows with Clarke and have a quick chat. Duffy was already back in the dressing room, his warm-up complete before only a third league start since leaving the Lane last summer. If he had still been around for a catch-up, there is no doubt a certain Steel City derby in 2017 would have cropped up in conversation. Clarke scored twice in United’s win against former club Wednesday that day, but Duffy has never let him forget that it is his strike that everyone remembers instead.
Five former Blades in reunion at FleetwoodThe surrounds could not have been more contrasting, nor the weather much more testing. But exactly three years to the night since helping Sheffield United return to the top of the Championship at Leeds United, there was no mistaking the competitive nature of the Bramall Lane old boys enjoying something of a reunion on a blustery Fylde coast. These days, Fleetwood Town is home to Paul Coutts and Mark Duffy, two double-promotion winners under Chris Wilder linking up with another former team-mate, Ched Evans. All three were in Joey Barton’s side on Tuesday night to face Shrewsbury Town, another League One club who United fans keep an eye on due to the presence of two more promotion heroes from the club’s recent past. Leon Clarke spent four years at Sheffield United, the longest spell of a nomadic career that has seen the veteran striker play for 18 clubs.
The lack of fans amid the pandemic is also keenly felt compared to the celebratory scenes in the away end at Elland Road, the shouts of the players clearly audible during a 1-0 win for Fleetwood. On the pitch, midfielder Coutts remains everything United fans came to expect from him during his four years at the Lane.
They had last weekend's fixture against Cambridge United postponed due to a frozen pitch. READ MORE: "Rein it in" - Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan makes injury pledge Here is everything you need to know ahead of the game. What time is kick-off? Fleetwood Town will host Sheffield Wednesday at Highbury Stadium on Monday, December 26 at 3pm. Is it on TV? No. Wednesday's game against Fleetwood has not been selected for broadcast on Sky Sports. However, it will be streamed on iFollow. Additionally, highlights of the game will be shown on ITV4's English Football League Highlights show at 9pm, repeated on ITV1 at 11. 10pm.
How else can I follow the game? Owls fans can also follow the game by checking out Yorkshire Live's live blog from the Highbury Stadium on Monday. What is the latest team news? Wednesday will be hopeful Barry Bannan is passed fit to be involved. The Owls skipper missed Saturday's draw at home to Oxford United due to a knock. Midfielders George Byers and Dennis Adeniran could also return to the fray. Defenders Michael Ihiekwe and Ben Heneghan are long-term injury absentees.
That strike meant it was a disappointing night for Shrewsbury’s two former Blades. Ebanks-Landell, part of the pioneering defence that perfected the unusual art of overlapping centre-backs in the League One title-winning campaign, went close to snatching a late equaliser with a deflected shot. Clarke, too, had his moments after being brought off the bench eight minutes into the second half. But, in truth, anything but a Fleetwood win would have been an injustice on the balance of the 90 minutes. There remains an enduring warmth between the former colleagues.
Fleetwood Town v Sheffield Wednesday: TV channel, live
Not since the autumn of the 2005-06 promotion season under Neil Warnock has the club looked down on the rest of the Football League. Confidence is high. Leon Clarke prepares to come on for Shrewsbury at Highbury last nightLeeds are sitting fourth, one place behind the visitors but Wilder’s newly-promoted side have won eight of their previous 10 league games, a stirring run that included a momentous 4-2 derby victory at Sheffield Wednesday. That belief proves well placed on a mild West Yorkshire night. United go ahead inside two minutes through Billy Sharp and clinch a deserved three points near the end when David Brooks nets his first senior goal. The better side by some distance has won — goalkeeper Andy Lonergan is Leeds’ man of the match — but Wilder is in a less than celebratory mood at the final whistle.
Fleetwood Town Related Matches - Sheffield Wednesday