Sheffield United 4 Bury 0: Blades are ahead of Wilson’s immediate schedule

After the dark hours of the season before, a new dawn may just be breaking for Sheffield United.

With 16 points from a possible 18, the Blades could hardly have made a better start to life under new manager Danny Wilson.

If this current vein of form continues, he might soon be serenaded by the Kop – which would be some going for a former Wednesday hero.

Goals from Chris Porter, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Matthew Lowton and substitute Erik Tonne sent Bury back across the Pennines in shock.

The Blades, meanwhile, moved up to second in the League One table, level both on points and goal difference with leaders Milton Keynes Dons.

According to Barker, the Blades are the ‘best team’ in the division. Coming from a Wednesday supporter, that says everything.

Barker, born in Sheffield, played for the Owls as a youngster and also played under Wilson at Hartlepool United.

Having led Bury to promotion last season, he is now finding life tough at a higher level. The departure last week of his two best players, Ryan Lowe and Damien Mozika, was also a serious blow.

“Where do you really want to come when you have just lost two of your most influential players? Not Sheffield United away,” he sighed. “I think we have played against the best team in the division but I can take consolation from the fact that I won’t have to come back here again.

“We have played Wednesday, Charlton, Huddersfield and now United – and they are by far the best side. Not many teams will come to Bramall Lane and pick points up,” he added.

The start of this game had to be delayed five minutes after referee Eddie Ilderton had spotted a sprinkler hole in the pitch that needing filling.

Although it took over 40 minutes to find the first, Blades found far bigger holes in Bury’s defence.

Porter broke the deadlock three minutes before the interval, tapping in from close range after Stephen Quinn’s shot had been blocked.

The home side doubled their advantage immediately after the break thanks to a mistake by Bury goalkeeper Cameron Belford.

There should have been no real danger when Mendez-Laing delivered a cross to the near post but Belford somehow misjudged the flight of the ball and allowed it to squeeze inside a post.

United’s third goal ended any chance of a Bury revival but was controversial due to the actions of captain Michael Doyle in its construction.

The midfielder clearly swung his arm when jostling for the ball with Peter Sweeney who crashed to the deck clutching his face. Referee Ilderton waved play on allowing Doyle to thread a pass into the Bury area. Belford could only parry Porter’s low shot and Matthew Lowton stroked home the rebound.

Substitute Erik Tonne wrapped things up six minutes from time with a neat flick home at a corner

The Blades’ performances so far have fuelled hopes of an immediate return to the Championship

Wilson has adjusted the team’s style and encouraged his defenders to play the ball to feet.

As a result, the team is less direct but no less gritty with Doyle chief ankle-biter in the middle of the park.

In defence, Neil Collins has grown in confidence and teenager Harry Maguire has grown in stature. New left-back Lecsinel Jean-Francois is prone to a loose pass or two but does not hide from the ball while Lowton is building on his progress last season.

With Nick Montgomery injured, David McAllister was given a rare opportunity in the engine room but struggled to get involved. Porter and Richard Cresswell in attack worked their socks off and have the makings of a good partnership. Loan signing Mendez-Laing is still working on his fitness but delivers a decent cross.

Overall, the Blades were easily the better side with Bury only rarely mounting any goal threat. Midfielder Giles Coke, making his debut for Bury on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, was unsurprisingly booed by the home supporters but stood out as one of the best players on the pitch.

For Wilson, this is not a time for complacency.

Yet he also admitted afterwards that his club’s start to the season had exceeded even his own expectations.

“Personally, I look at blocks of six games,” he said. “We wanted a certain number of points on the board and we have surpassed that so we have got to be pleased.

“That doesn’t mean to say that we can take our foot off the gas now or think that we have arrived. We haven’t done anything. There is a long way to go.

“We are getting better and everyone has bought into the way we want to play. The more we play together, the better it will get.”

When Wilson was appointed as manager this summer, there were protests in the club car park. Against that background, he will inevitably be asked the same questions this season about whether he is winning over those fans.

So far, it is looking good but the 51-year-old has little interest in assessing his own popularity. “It doesn’t matter about me, it’s about the team, it’s about winning games,” he said. “And it doesn’t matter if people like or dislike me. It’s not a problem. I’m here to do a job.

Wilson, meanwhile, confirmed that the Blades have still not given up the fight to sign Rangers duo Kyle Hutton and John Fleck on loan. The Football League, however, are adamant that they were not registered before Wednesday night’s transfer deadline and say the matter is closed.