Chris Wilder says Sheffield United wasted one chance to beat West Bromwich Albion, they cannot do it again

The Blades were comfortably the better side when the sides met at the Hawthorns in November, but their failure to take often routine chances allowed Slaven Bilic's Baggies to run out 1-0 winners.

Now, four points behind West Brom and 13 adrift of safety with only 17 matches to play, the Blades know they cannot afford to be so generous when the side now managed by Wilder's former Notts County manager Sam Allardyce visit Bramall Lane on Tuesday.

Wilder admits November's defeat has preyed on his mind, calling it an “incredible missed opportunity.”

“I don’t like to go through stuff we can’t really control but you do think about it, my wife Francesca will say the same as well,” admitted Wilder. “You think about games you have.

“There have been some huge missed opportunities this season and that is possibly the highlight of it.

“We have to use it to know we are good enough to beat the opposition but respect the opposition, they have got a hugely experienced manager who has never been relegated and pulled rabbits out of hats left right and centre before.

“For our own benefit, psychologically we have to have a positive perform and a positive result. I am not going to dress it up.

“The players understand the position we are in. If we don’t win games of football we are not going to be in the division next year and we have all to deal with that.”

Allardyce, who made unwanted history by being sacked as England manager after just one match in “permanent” control, built his reputation on his ability to save teams from relegation (though there is more to him than just that), something he has never experienced during his coaching career.

He will be hoping some transfer deadline-day business changes that, but so far his arrival has failed to have the desired effect on a demoralised-looking group of players, winning just one of his nine matches in charge and taking some hefty beatings.

“It is hugely difficult,” said Wilder of the task facing the veteran. “I have done it before at different levels, to come in halfway through a season is difficult. You have to quickly assess and get your message over.

“They have had a great win at Wolves and some tight games (including a 1-1 draw at Anfield).

“The job he did at Bolton was an incredible achievement and right the way through his career, what he has achieved, I don’t get the negative attitude that people have towards Sam. He is an innovator and he has done that right the way through his career. He has got teams out of positions that I don’t think many managers would be able to.”

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