Chris Wilder tells anxious Sheffield United fans to relax after scrappy win at Blackburn Rovers

The Blades lost for the first time this season at home to Norwich City on Saturday, but responded with a win at Blackburn Rovers that was all the sweeter because it was such hard work.

Blackburn were on top when they took the lead through Kristi Montgomery after 20 minutes, but Sydie Peck made a goal which was well taken by Tom Cannon, then scored one himself after a brilliant piece of skill. Michael Cooper then did a good job of keeping the hosts at bay to see out a 2-1 win in the second half.

Money is tight at Bramall Lane, where the Blades have brought in a lot more money than they have spent in the summer window, but Wilder was able to add the experience of free agent Jordan Ayew to his squad in the build-up to Tuesday's game.

And whilst his team are doing it tough, they are doing it, which will hopes supporters recognise.

“We could have controlled it a little bit more," admitted Wilder. "But I think there's a lot of noise around the place.

"We're six games in. We’ve won two, drawn three, lost one. So everybody just needs to calm down a little bit.

“I think there's a lot of emotion at the moment running through the football club. But as long as the players are prepared to run about and put themselves on the line... if they weren't, then maybe tonight is a different result.

“We're scrambling at the moment. We've got to get through to the international break (which comes after Sunday's game against Wolverhampton Wanderers).

"We haven’t got like-for-like substitutions and we've lost a lot of energy, in Harrison (Burrows), in Femi (Seriki), in Chongy (Tahith Chong) and Ryan (One). But we've got a good group. We’re just trying to find a way at a particular moment and still pick up results.

"The league's crazy. We move into the top nine, we’ve lost one all season.

"We're not flowing but we've got an attitude about us. We've got a character about us.

"Turn the clock back 12 months (and that wasn’t the case).

“There have been good moments in games and not so good moments individually and as a team. I think everybody's trying to find that, looking across the division.

"Of course, I want us to play better but, for me, it’s always about the result and improve on the performance. You've got to try and find that balance.

"I'm not embarrassed about winning games of football because we didn't win a lot of games of football at the start of last year.

"We'll get players fitter, we'll get players back. And we will get better."

With a transfer window open during the season, with players like Ayew joining without a proper pre-season, and cup football and international breaks disrupting the flow of the early weeks, it is perhaps no surprise the Blades are not yet at 100 per cent.

"I'm not kidding myself," reflected Wilder.

"I'm not saying we're absolutely dominating any team or there's a free-flying performance. I think everybody's up and down. Blackburn get beat at Preston on Saturday, Preston are bottom of the division. That's just the way the division is.

"For me, it's about trying to get through this situation.

"I think that's the nature of the division right the way up to the international break.

"After ten games, everybody settles down and they see where everything goes.

"We need to be better, we will be better. We'll smooth everything out and then we can get into a little bit of a rhythm hopefully.

"Last season we wanted to come in hitting the ground running and I know maybe it's a different sort of situation this season, but it took us a little while to get going again.

"I think people have to take into account maybe what's happened and the situation scenario, what we've coached through pre-season and how we're trying to adjust off the back of that."