Chris Wilder up for the fight of saving Sheffield United

ANYONE familiar with Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder will know he is someone who will always come out fighting.
Chris Wilder: His side might be bottom but the Sheffield United manager is relishing the battle. (Picture: PA)Chris Wilder: His side might be bottom but the Sheffield United manager is relishing the battle. (Picture: PA)
Chris Wilder: His side might be bottom but the Sheffield United manager is relishing the battle. (Picture: PA)

It will surprise few that after his side’s wretched start to the Premier League season, the Blades chief remains full of defiance and has even professed to enjoying the scrap that he and his club find themselves in.

United prop up the table with just a point from eight top-flight matches ahead of tomorrow’s home game with West Ham.

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It is the joint lowest points tally at this stage of a Premier League campaign ever, alongside Manchester City (1995-96), Southampton (1998-99), Sheffield Wednesday (1999-00) and Sunderland (2013-14).

Sheffield United's Chris Wilder has not seen his side win a Premier League game this season (Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage)Sheffield United's Chris Wilder has not seen his side win a Premier League game this season (Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage)
Sheffield United's Chris Wilder has not seen his side win a Premier League game this season (Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage)

Both the Saints and Sunderland managed to stay up and the Blades are seeking to join that exclusive club.

As a lifelong Blade, the achievement would sit well on the shoulders of Wilder.

From a personal perspective, he does not want to become a casualty at his hometown club either as he aims to keep his proud record of never been sacked in his managerial career firmly intact.

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Wilder, whose side last won back on July 11, said: “I have managed over 900 senior games and have come through that period without a dismissal on the CV and I certainly do not want one on from a personal point of view.

“We are up for the fight and I have been in a lot worse positions in my professional career and managed to come through. I am not saying it will be easy and we have a fight ahead of us.

People will be having their opinions on us around Sheffield and nationally. In a perverse way, I quite enjoy times like this and it is in my nature to fight and in our nature as a football club to fight.

“There are certain things that have gone against us and it is a rollercoaster of a football club.

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“We have had some fantastic times over the last three or four years and have to take the downside on the chin and roll with the punches.”

The return to the fray of John Fleck and Lys Mousset represents a huge boost according to Wilder.

There is doubt over the participation of key Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge, who has been in quarantine after international team-mate Omar Elabdellouai tested positive for Covid-19.

Wilder added: “We are waiting for instruction from Sander, as with a couple of other boys (international players). He is in that category with a question mark.”

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