Liverpool v Sheffield United - Blades boss Chris Wilder in no rush to panic about winless Premier League start

CHRIS WILDER has revealed that he is taking solace from the words of good friend Sean Dyche as his Sheffield United side seek to galvanise their season.
NO PRESSURE: Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, pictured during last Saturday's 1-1 stalemate with Fulham at Bramall Lane. Picture: Simon Bellis/SportimageNO PRESSURE: Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, pictured during last Saturday's 1-1 stalemate with Fulham at Bramall Lane. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
NO PRESSURE: Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder, pictured during last Saturday's 1-1 stalemate with Fulham at Bramall Lane. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Without a win so far this term, the Blades face a daunting appointment at champions Liverpool tonight, the start of an untimely-looking run of Premier League fixtures which sees the Yorkshire club also play Manchester City and Chelsea.

United are seeking a badly-needed catalyst to reignite their campaign, but despite a testing opening, Wilder is remaining calm and cites the experiences of Dyche in his time at Burnley as valuable perspective.

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He said: “It is a long season and the only time you can reflect is at the end of the season. We have just got to keep picking up points and go through this process.

STAY CALM< CARRY ON: Burnley manager Sean Dyche. Picture: Alex Pantling/NMC Pool/PASTAY CALM< CARRY ON: Burnley manager Sean Dyche. Picture: Alex Pantling/NMC Pool/PA
STAY CALM< CARRY ON: Burnley manager Sean Dyche. Picture: Alex Pantling/NMC Pool/PA

Sean Dyche explained it perfectly. His team have been in this situation for a few years and you stay calm and believe in what you are doing on the training ground and what you have done in your career as a manager and what the players have done in their careers and you stick with it.

“The Premier League can hurt you, of course it can. But there is a still a long way to go. It is not the start we wanted, but you possibly look at it and think is this the realistic situation we should be in.”

Despite last season’s top-10 finish, Wilder has bridled at talk that the Blades were looking at raising expectations and insists that the first primary target has always been to retain their status in the most high-profile domestic league in the world.

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Wilder, who could hand a full debut to club record signing Rhian Brewster at his old club this evening–- just over three weeks since he left Anfield – added: “I have certainly not got ahead of myself in thinking it is going to be another top-10 finish for Sheffield United.

“I don’t think anything sets us up to guarantee that off the pitch in what we do. The players have to recognise that.

“We have been involved in some really tight games and there has not been a lot in what we have played. We have just got to try and turn those losses into draws and draws into wins.”

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