Chris Wilder vs Paul Heckingbottom: Head to Head | OneFootball

Chris Wilder and Paul Heckingbottom have given Sheffield United some of the best days in the club’s recent history. Initially, working together with Wilder as the First-team manager and Heckingbottom as the U21s manager. A system that has bared fruit in the amount of academy players contributing to the current first-team.

Then, after Chris Wilder’s departure in 2021, Heckingbottom became his interim replacement and, apart from the Slavisa Jokanovic fever dream, would become his permanent successor.

As managers, the pair have stood in opposing dugouts four times, each managing the Blades twice in their duels. This weekend sees Wilder get his third game against Heckingbottom as Sheffield United manager.

Sheffield United 1-0 Barnsley (19 August 2017)

The first game between Chris Wilder and Paul Heckingbottom was a South Yorkshire derby with a dramatic first-half.

The fourth game of Sheffield United’s first season back in the Championship started with Billy Sharp scoring the only goal of the game. On the 17th minute, John Fleck in the midway into Barnsley’s half played the ball left to Enda Stevens. Stevens played a first time pass to the overlapping Jack O’Connell. His low cross found a closely marked Billy Sharp who smashed the ball past Adam Davies.

Later in the 42nd minute a ball from Fleck looking to put Leon Clarke through on goal ended up in the arms of Davies. After not reaching the ball due to tight marking from Barnsley captain Angus MacDonald. Clarke and MacDonald butted heads leading to both players being sent off. With both sides facing the rest of the match with ten players.

After half-time the game petered out somewhat with Billy Sharp’s early goal separating the two. The main notable moment of the second-half saw David Brooks shot spilled by Davies but the ball rolled to the post without crossing the line.

Interestingly, including Adam Davies in goal, Barnsley’s bench included future Wednesday forward Ike Ugbo and Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes.

Sheffield United 2 – 1 Leeds United (10 February 2018)

Not content with losing once at Bramall Lane in the 2017-2018 season. Paul Heckingbottom took the Leeds job on 6 February 2018 to do the same again. Four days after arriving at Elland Road. You have to love Agent Hecky.

The game opened much like the first with a goal from Billy Sharp. In the second minute, a cross from Mark Duffy down the right flank was flicked on by Leeds’ Eunan O’Kane. It then fell to Sharp in the centre of the box with his back to goal. His subsequent volley was one of his best in a Sheffield United shirt.

Leeds hit back on 47 minutes when Pierre-Michel Lassogga had a basically free header which he guided into the bottom right-corner.

Then, a Mark Duffy quick free-kick played Fleck down the left hand side of the box. Only for Fleck to be fouled leading to a Billy Sharp penalty. Sharp fired the ball past the keeper to the left scoring the winner on the 73rd minute.

Ultimately, giving Chris Wilder an 100% record (for now) when facing Paul Heckingbottom as Sheffield United manager.

Sheffield United 4 – 1 Middlesbrough (8 March 2022)

Three years ago on Saturday, Chris Wilder returned to Bramall Lane with Middlesbrough to face Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades. Despite, a warm reception from Blades fans, Wilder’s old side gave his Boro team a humbling.

Sander Berge opened the scoring 23 minutes in. Billy Sharp crossed the ball from the left only for it to be parried by Boro keeper Joe Lumley into the path of Berge. Leaving the Norwegian to tap into an open net.

Two minutes later, Billy Sharp doubled the Blades lead after Oliver Norwood won the ball in Middlesbrough’s half played through Morgan Gibbs-White. Gibbs-White drove into the box and passed right to Sharp who finished past a scrambling Lumley.

On 59 minutes, a Norwood corner found John Egan at the back of a crowded box. Egan headed the ball down to allow Jack Robinson to volley in the third with his right foot.

Then, came Middlesbrough’s consolation goal from Folarin Balogun. A pass back to Blades’ keeper Wes Foderingham who tripped whilst trying to play the ball. Allowed Balogun the freedom of the Blades’ box to give Wilder’s side something from the game.

Middlesbrough 2 – 2 Sheffield United (14 August 2022)

The first clash between the two managers away from Bramall Lane and the first without a win for Sheffield United.

The Blades opened the scoring again through Sander Berge three minutes in. With the Norwegian scoring from the edge of the box after having his back to goal. With his across the floor finish beating Zack Steffen.

Middlesbrough responded through a ball across the six-yard box from Dijksteel which left Chuba Akpom with an open net to get the equaliser.

In the second-half, the Blades went back in front when a throw-in found Norwood who played in Iliman Ndiaye down the left near the byline. Ndiaye put the ball across the box for Ryan Giles to smash into his own net.

Boro responded again through Akpom in the 82nd minute. With Giles’ cross finding Lenihan who flicked the ball on for Akpom to head past Foderingham.

Takeaways

Chris Wilder currently has the advantage over Paul Heckingbottom in their head-to-head record. With two Wilder wins, one Heckingbottom win and a draw. Although, with the absence of Billy Sharp and Sander Berge, a new opening scorer will need to emerge.

After getting the better of Wilder in the last clash between the two at Bramall Lane. Heckingbottom will fancy his chances with his Preston team steadily picking up points since his arrival.

Either way, it will be interesting to see the result of another clash between the two managers behind the last decades’ success.