Brighton v Sheffield United - Blades have found redemption, now they must find points

On the south coast they looked demoralised, lethargic and beaten. When the whistle blew to kick off four days later they were positive, energised and up for the fight. The emotion at full-time was again frustration, but of a very different type.

Those questioning the future of manager Chris Wilder – and if you only looked at this season’s story of one point from 13 matches, you would – were given irrefutable evidence that one thing he has not lost is the dressing room. Thursday’s spirit will be needed again at Brighton and Hove Albion in tomorrow’s noon kick-off and every game from now until their Premier League fate is decided.

Wilder said his piece after Sunday but the best managers create an environment where actually they do not need to say anything. The Blades do not lack character, honesty or a sense of responsibility.

That was why after playing like imposters at the weekend, they looked like the Sheffield United who so excited last season’s Premier League against Manchester United.

“We knew we had to get back to that,” says David McGoldrick, who scored the goal which stated his side’s intent and the one which had Red Devils fans chewing their fingernails until Michael Oliver called time on a 3-2 result. “It wasn’t that against Southampton at all, we were miles off it.

“We went, like we always do, wanting to give it a go but I felt like confidence was shot. It wasn’t about caring, we just didn’t believe in ourselves.

“We wanted to come out (on Thursday) on the front foot and make a statement. We could have nicked a deserved point.”

If they hadn’t seen such riches, perhaps the Blades could live with being poor but the comedown from last season’s Europa League push has been heavy. McGoldrick has scored four league goals this season compared to two last but unhesitatingly says: “I’d change that for points all day.” As his game is all about unselfishness, it is easy to take him at his word.

His side’s struggles have already ensured Wilder will not be able to enjoy Christmas.

“I don’t think anybody will with what’s happening in the outside world and at this football club but you have to get on with it,” he bah-humbugs.

“Whether people think that’s a negative attitude, I just think it’s an honest attitude.

“There might be a few managers at the top of the table who might enjoy it a little bit more but we want to win and we’re not enjoying this period of results.”

The reaction to St Mary’s started immediately.

“We had a good talk after the game in the dressing room,” reveals McGoldrick. “We care about this club, there’s no one who doesn’t care. We have to get back to basics, be on the front foot, be hard to beat, be aggressive and get after players, you can’t let world-class players have time on the ball and show them too much respect like we did against Southampton.”

Wilder added: “From a coaching point of view it started straight away. On the journey back, the discussion is about what we need to do in the week. There’s telephone calls and we’re in the next day for a staff meeting and preparing the players.

“We had two ways to prepare, assess injuries and what way we want to play, and try to pick the right team and get the message over to the players about what I expect out on the pitch. My message was pretty clear, as you can imagine. What happened at Southampton was a difficult one for everybody to take and I wasn’t prepared to take that lying down.

“As a coach and a manager you want to see them take on board what you said, and I think we saw that on Thursday. They played in the manner I want to see.

“Yeah, we’ve got to show a bit more quality, be a bit better with the goals (conceded), but the overall general intensity and intent we needed to play at, we played at right the way through. That has to stay constant and consistent right the way through the season.”

It is not unknown for players in a position as seemingly helpless as the Blades to throw the towel in.

“Not at this club,” says McGoldrick. “Chris Wilder our gaffer won’t have that. Everyone trains hard, everyone’s vocal and I think that all comes from seeing people care and want to be successful.

“We’ve got good senior boys and they care for the club. They wouldn’t let that happen, I wouldn’t let that happen.”

By Thursday, Wilder was bubbly and buoyant again.

“There was a good feeling,” he says. “I’ve got to say I fancied us.

“I’m not so sure outside our changing room, even for the most passionate of our supporters, people would have expected us to get a result but I believed there was a result in us. It wasn’t but not for the want of trying.”

Now they must pick themselves up again. It is not just the fixture list which makes it such a draining season for them.

“The mood (at full-time) wasn’t good because we didn’t get any points,” reflects McGoldrick. “As players we’ve got to do our thing, play how we play and go back to the old, hard-to-beat nastiness and when you do that, you get chance to play.

“On Thursday everyone wanted the ball and it was a night-and-day performance from Southampton.

“We’ve got to take the positives. If we don’t stay positive it will be a long season but if we play like that against Brighton and in the games coming up in the Christmas period, we’ll definitely put points on the board.”

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