Sheffield United versus Rotherham is a different kind of derby

The Star’s James Shield identifies five things the match taught us about these two South Yorkshire rivals.

MORE: Boss delighted to talk football

Small details made the difference for United: The visitors got themselves into plenty of promising positions during the game. Jayden Bogle in particular troubled the hosts’ defence.

But when, or ‘where’ it really mattered, United failed to take advantage of the possibilities they were presented with. They either took the wrong touch, one too many or failed to execute it correctly when they chose the right pass.

It can’t be described as a habit. Otherwise Heckingbottom’s men wouldn’t be second in the table and 10 points clear of third. But it will be something the manager brings up ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup replay against Wrexham.

MORE: James’ big match verdict

The Millers have enough: Paul Warne was always going to be a tough act to follow. And, after initially replacing the now Derby County chief, Matt Taylor struggled to fill his predecessor’s boots.

Slowly but surely, though, and thanks to the backing of his chairman, Taylor has been able to construct a squad equipped to carry out his instructions.

Rotherham are battling for survival at the wrong end of the division. But they definitely have enough to avoid the drop. More than enough in fact. Not many teams will take four points from two games against United this term. Rotherham have.

MORE: Taylor on United relationship

A different kind of derby: It was still contested competitively. Both sets of players, despite lacking the quality required to inflict damage in the final third, gave absolutely everything to try and win the game.

But off-the-pitch, United’s meetings with Rotherham contain none of the rancour usually associated with derbies. Even though, to be frank, there’s only really one of those for the visitors. And Sheffield Wednesday, in case anyone had forgotten, are in League One right now.

A tweet ahead of kick-off summed up the relationship between these two clubs. ‘You are staying up,’ it said United fans had chanted to their Rotherham counterparts in a pub beforehand. That was apparently met with a chorus of ‘You are going up.’

MORE: ‘I want to stay’

Striker is clearly being pushed: Early in the game. Oli McBurnie spent a good 10 minutes gingerly touching his ankle after slipping during a tackle. With Rhian Brewster still recovering from a hamstring complaint, one suspects the Scotland international’s rehabilitation programme is being rushed through quicker than United might ordinarily have liked.

McBurnie’s partnership with Iliman Ndiaye, resurrected here, was irresistible before the World Cup break. Hopefully he doesn’t break down, because if both men play regularly, United will be difficult to stop.

MORE: Manager’s virtuoso performance

Manager deserves help: Heckingbottom accepts he is going to be asked about United’s proposed takeover and transfer embargo. After all, the 45-year-old is the only senior figure at the club who speaks regularly to the media.

He has shown great patience over the past month, doing his best to answer questions which are beyond his remit. But, for the first time, that appeared to crack at New York Stadium. Telling journalists “You should get someone else in front of you to ask those,” Heckingbottom made it clear he would appreciate a little assistance from above.