Chris Wilder not sugar-coating Sheffield United’s predicament

In the words of Chris Wilder, Sheffield United are not “poncing about” in their fight against Premier League relegation.
Ethan Ampadu of Sheffield United tussles with Dara O'Shea  and Matt Phillips of West Bromwich Albion (Picture: Andrew Yates/Sportimage)Ethan Ampadu of Sheffield United tussles with Dara O'Shea  and Matt Phillips of West Bromwich Albion (Picture: Andrew Yates/Sportimage)
Ethan Ampadu of Sheffield United tussles with Dara O'Shea and Matt Phillips of West Bromwich Albion (Picture: Andrew Yates/Sportimage)

They cannot.

With a 10-point gap to safety and only 16 matches in which to make it up, the odds are stacked against the Blades as they look to stay in the top division.

Upsetting odds, though, is something Wilder’s hard-nosed group of players enjoy. Having given the rest of the league a ridiculous headstart, they have won five of their last seven matches, three out of five in the league.

Chris Wilder is demanding more from his players (Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage)Chris Wilder is demanding more from his players (Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage)
Chris Wilder is demanding more from his players (Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage)
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Their ability might be found wanting when the final league table is drawn up, but their mentality will not.

Wilder has never been a man to sugar the pill, an old-fashioned approach in an era where players are often regarded as too delicate flowers to be criticised, and his squad are tough enough to respond in the right way.

“I don’t get the pussy-footing around players,” he said after Tuesday’s 2-1 come-from-behind win over West Bromwich Albion, their nearest rivals. “Of course there’s a time and a place and I don’t always take a sledgehammer to them but this is where we are, this is the position they’re in and they’re professional sportsmen so they have to play under pressure.

“If they can’t cope with that then they’re not going to survive or flourish at the highest level.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s not about me testing them, but me demanding more from them and asking the question. Can they come up with the answer?

“There was a lot of young players out there in the second half – (Max) Lowe, (Jayden) Bogle and Ethan (Ampadu), who’ve not been in this position before. I’m putting them in that position where they’ve got to produce.

“Apart from a couple of poor decisions he took, it was a man’s performance from Ethan and they’ve got to show that man’s performance.

“If a linebacker misses a tackle in a key game American football, the coach doesn’t come over and put his arm around him and say, ‘Unlucky mate, make sure you nail the next one.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I never get this poncing about (of) is it right to say this or that about them.

“I nail it by saying I’m their biggest supporters but I’m always asking the question.

“I’m a demanding manager from them. They have to produce and especially second half they did that.”

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive membiers-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.