By Paul Holmes
September 1 2002

Llyod Owusu became an instant hero with the Sheffield Wednesday fans after scoring on his debut against local rivals Sheffield United. The first Sheffield derby of the season was, as always, frantic and fierce.

It was United who started better with the much sought after Michael Tonge pulling the strings in midfield. Wednesday 'keeper Kevin Pressman was at his best to prevent efforts from John-Paul McGoveren and Iffy Onura and Tonge to keep the scores at nil-nil.

Tonge was displaying the form that attracted interest from Tottenham in the summer and Glenn Hoddle was rumoured to have been close to making a deadline day bid for the former-Man Utd youth. If the youngsters form continues then Premiership clubs will be waiting when the transfer window re-opens on New Years Eve.

Stuart McCall also went close for United with Leon Knight providing The Owls only real threat in the first half.

The Blades started the second half in the same fashion as the first, going for Wednesday's throats with Carl Asaba wasting a after McCall played him through. Wednesday almost took the lead but Shefki Kuqi's header was cleared off the line.

Now Wednesday were fighting the back and Paul McLaren saw his effort rattle the crossbar.

With both teams attacking a goal was certain and it came on 73 minutes. Kuqi's looping header came back off the post and Owusureacted first to open the scoring, just 60 seconds after coming on as a sub.

Salt was rubbed into United wounds when Kuqiconnected with a Alan Quinn cross to seal The Owls first win of the season.

In the dying seconds Carl Asaba missed a glorious chance after a fine Pressman save.

In the days other game Preston and Ipswich played out an entertaining goal-less draw at Deepdale. Richard Cresswell and Ricardo Fuller going close for Preston and Matt Holland and Darren Bent providing the threat from The Tractor Boys.