Chris Wilder claims Sheffield United shirt has been 'too heavy' for some after loss to Preston North End
Chris Wilder reflects on Sheffield United’s 3-2 defeat to Preston North End
Chris Wilder believes the Sheffield United shirt has been “too heavy” for some of his players.
It has been a dismal season for the Blades, who have fallen to 15th in the Championship table after a miserable run of results.
Preston became the latest to topple the South Yorkshire strugglers, striking twice through Liam Lindsay and then via Lewis Dobbin to claim a 3-2 win at Bramall Lane. Gustavo Hamer and Patrick Bamford were on target for the hosts but their goals proved to be mere consolations.
Chris Wilder’s view on another defeat for Sheffield United
Wilder said: “We knew what the game was going to be about. The three goals sum us up: dealing with direct play, dealing with second balls, stopping crosses, defending inside your goal… it’s all basic Championship football you need to be good at. They were good at it and we weren’t.
“On the other side of it, we’ve created chances but we gave ourselves a mountain to climb yet again with the two goals we conceded from set-plays.
“There was a softness about us and then the shirt’s heavy. It’s been too heavy for some players. Both boxes have been our Achilles heel this season, even late on.
“I’m not saying Preston didn’t have chances, but 2-0 down, if you gamble and create the chances, you have to stick them away. There was a couple we had and we had to put them away.”
‘Big win’ for Preston North End
Preston were led to victory by former Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom. who hailed a “big win” for the Lilywhites.
He said: “I was proud of the players. We were without three centre-backs and, right up until the last minute, were not sure who would play. But the boys who had to go again were excellent and those who had to come in were very good.
“We had to block everything at the end but it’s a big win.”