Peterborough v Sheffield United: Jake Wright proving the talisman behind Blades push in League One

Jake Wright could be forgiven for boasting about his amazing record since joining Sheffield United.
Jake Wright: Central defender has yet to feature in a losing side for Sheffield United.Jake Wright: Central defender has yet to feature in a losing side for Sheffield United.
Jake Wright: Central defender has yet to feature in a losing side for Sheffield United.

For the former Halifax Town and Bradford City central defender is yet to appear on the losing side since joining the Blades from Oxford United in the summer.

The 30-year-old was drafted in to play last weekend against AFC Wimbledon – after United endured a three-game mini-slump without a win – and helped the Blades go back top of League One with a resounding 4-0 win.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In 16 appearances, dating back to his debut on August 27 – following a five-game winless start to the campaign – Wright has been United’s lucky charm.

When Chris Wilder’s side have lost – five times in total – 30-year-old Wright has not featured. Not that the defender is keen to pay too much significance to the amazing sequence of results.

“It’s not something I really like to talk about because, the minute you do, you’re setting yourself up for a fall,” said Wright.

“Actually, my trick is missing all the really tough games”, he said with a smile. “That’s probably the reason. Joking aside, I just want the team do do well. The lads who haven’t been playing all contribute. I was out for a while and, yes, I was disappointed. But it’s not about individuals. It’s about the team.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That victory over AFC Wimbledon restored United to top spot in League One, with 60 points from 30 games. Averaging two points per game, that is the accepted standard to gain automatic promotion. Wright, though, is not talking about the ‘P’ word.

“Obviously, lads go home and will look at the fixtures but, as a team and a club, we’re not,” he said. “We’re just taking things game by game and step by step.

“We’re not talking about promotion. It would be disrespectful to other teams for us to do that and I don’t suppose anyone around us is doing it either. We’ve got two really tough games coming up. Both away.”

The first is today at Peterborough United, before another long trek on Tuesday night to Bristol Rovers.