No hiding place for Wilder after winless start

The Blades are awaiting their first win of the new campaign and their maiden victory of the Wilder regime, having taken just one point from two league matches, while also suffering an EFL Cup exit at home to Crewe.

Wilder, who has brought in seven summer signings thus far and is eyeing more inward and outward activity with Kieran Wallace, Kieron Freeman and Paul Coutts also on the transfer list, acknowledges that there is ‘no hiding place’.

But equally, he is confident that a turnaround in results will germinate, hopefully starting this evening against Southend, who have lost their last eight matches, with manager Phil Brown admitting he is under pressure.

Wilder, whose side required a late weekend equaliser against Rochdale to avoid a third successive loss, said: “I think I would have been pretty naive thinking everything was going to click in place straight away, walking into a new club with new players.

“Keith (Hill) said something on Saturday about playing for Sheffield United. It is either angry or ecstatic.

“I thought it was a good way of putting it. But it is nothing to be scared of or shy away from.

“The highs of playing for this club – and there will be many when we get it going – will be higher than any other club in this division and possibly most in the one above too.

“From my point of view, and observers looking on, we know what we have to do.

“I live around the area and there is no hiding place.

“I get out and talk to people and understand the way we played on Saturday was not great, especially in second-half.

“But I also talked to some people who have worked here at the club and they said that the players might have gone under and got beaten in recent seasons after that on Saturday. They did not, though.”

Last six games: Sheffield United DLLLLD, Southend LLLLLL.

Last time: Sheffield United 2 Southend 2, November 14, 2015; League One.

Referee: G Eltringham (Tyne & Wear).