Man Of Steel

SHEFFIELD Wednesday legend John Sheridan has the perfect response ready, should he receive some expected taunting this weekend.

The Argyle boss spent seven years as an Owl, clocking 200 appearances for Wednesday - a fact that fans of Sheffield United, the team Argyle meet this Saturday in the FA Cup at Bramall Lane, are unlikely to have forgotten.

The rivalry between the Steel City sides is intense, with perhaps no match epitomising the antipathy than a game from two decades in the very competition in which attention turns to this week.

Last season, United lost in the FA Cup semi-finals for a fifth time in fifty years, but it is unlikely to have hurt as much as when they lost out at the penultimate stage in 1993.

In that year, with Sheridan in midfield, Wednesday defeated their neighbours at Wembley. A Mark Bright goal in extra-time sent the blue-and-white half of Sheffield into raptures - and into the cup final, which they would ultimately lose to Arsenal.

John understands that being a Sheffield Wednesday icon, returning to Bramall Lane might draw a response from the Blades fans - but he is ready.

“If I’m getting a bit of stick, then that means that they might have respected me a little," said John. “I’ve played against them and beat them, and played against them and lost to them.

“I’ll just have a little bit of a laugh and a joke with them, and remind them about the semi-final!”

"Obviously we didn’t win the final, but to beat Sheffield United in the semi-final was unbelievable.

“To play in that against Sheffield United, it was more for the supporters more than anyone. Those derby games were special."

“They’re all real good supporters. I played for two teams (Wednesday and Leeds) who had really good support.

“Sheffield United are like that. They get really behind the team. They’ve had tough times, but they stick with the team.

“I was fortunate to play for some really good clubs.”