Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder fires broadside at Sky Sports pundits

The bottom-placed Blades lost out 3-1 at home to Spurs - with former Manchester United skipper Keane and ex-Liverpool captain Souness hitting out at the display of the hosts.

Keane said that the Blades could be remembered as one of the worst top-flight teams ever and said that he could not believe what he was watching.

Meanwhile, Souness labelled the hosts showing as ‘pathetic' in a game which saw the Blades respond from a 2-0 deficit by pulling a goal back just before the hour mark through David McGoldrick before a wonder goal from Tanguy Ndombele restored the visitors' two-goal lead.

Wilder, whose side welcome Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup on Saturday, said: “The result against Spurs was not the best in our point of view, but there were still some decent things in that game.

“It was not as one-sided as people possibly made it out to be. In my opinion, it was not a white-flag performance that some people made it out to be.

“I have got some stats in front of me, actually which back that up, even though I don’t really need them..

“It (Spurs loss) was a little bit self-inflicted in some key moments. But I have got to say, it was the quality we were up against as well.

“There was a fabulous finish from arguably the best striker in Europe and an incredible goal from Ndombele and an incredible performance by him topped off by an incredible goal that punishes you very harshly at times in the division you are in.”

Wilder has confirmed that defender Jack O’Connell has suffered a ‘little bit of a setback’ in his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury.

The influential centre-half has yet to feature this season, but he will still retain a spot in the club’s 25-man squad in the hope that he will still be involved this term.

Wilder said: “Jack O’Connell has unfortunately suffered a bit of a setback, which we knew would happen.

“It is not a straightforward situation that Jack is back when and it’s great..We have to be really careful with Jack and we have to manage his load.

“We will keep assessing and that was always the situation as soon as he received the injury.

“There has been a little bit of a setback. But hopefully - and more importantly for the boy than me or the football club - he comes through it.”

Oli McBurnie and Ben Osborn will again be missing this weekend for the visit of Argyle, but Jack Rodwell could be involved.