Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder on one of the 'most challenging' 24-48 hours he has ever experienced ahead of a game
SHEFFIELD United manager Chris Wilder revealed that he and his coaching staff had to cope with one of the ‘most challenging’ pre-match preparations he has ever endured in his long career ahead of Tuesday’s 1-1 Championship draw with Norwich City.
A combination of injuries and illness meant that Wilder had to make eight changes from the side who thumped Stoke City at Bramall Lane on Saturday, with Michael Cooper, Femi Seriki and Japhet Tanganga being the only players who lined up from the off against the Potters.
Sydie Peck and Jairo Riedewald missed out all together in central midfield, with Oli Arblaster pressed into service from the start after being handed his first competitive action for almost exactly 13 months following a long-term knee injury – when the midfielder would have been eased in under normal circumstances.
Sam McCallum, who also started at the weekend, was also not involved, with the likes of Gus Hamer, Patrick Bamford and Tyrese Campbell dropping to the bench.
Alongside the return of Arblaster, the other highlight was a first goal for the club for Danny Ings, who put United ahead on 50 minutes.
The hosts looked set for a fifth successive win for the first time since December 2022, but lowly Norwich levelled when Djibril Soumare inexplicably diverted Jovan Makama’s cross into his own net after 65 minutes.
The Canaries, without an away win since August 30, went close to a stoppage-time when substitute Amankwah Forson cashed in on a Seriki error to race clear, but Michgael Cooper made a brilliant point-blank save.
Wilder, whose side have a short turnaround and return to action at West Brom on Friday night, said: "I've got to say, personally for myself and the coaches, it's possibly one of the most challenging last 24, 48 hours that we've had.
"Players were dropping out like flies and stuff like that. You always understand, as a manager, that every decision you make is put under the spotlight.
"Every one of those decisions that I made today, for that team selection, wasn't a tactical one. It was a physical situation, and because of the three games in six days. Another one. Cheers to the EFL for that. Brilliant, we’ll go again... That's three times I think now.
"Whether it was losing Mark McGuinness, whether it was losing Jairo, whether it’s not being able to play Gus Hamer because of the schedule.
"Tyrese playing Saturday. Andre Brooks not being really in a position to go again because of a couple of bits and pieces that he was feeling after the weekend as well.
"The list just goes on and on really. We should have won it, I think, in my opinion, but you've got to give the opposition credit as well. They started brighter than us, they flipped it around and Kenny McLean was sort of dictating the game. I thought after 15 or 20 minutes we've got a grip of that.
"We started to get a foothold back in the game and created some good chances, got ourselves in front. Our goal that we conceded is a really, really poor one. Not like us on recent form. I can't fault the players' attitude, can't really fault the players' application in trying to win the game.
"The game became incredibly open for the counter and we were ambitious in trying to win it, I think, in our attitude. I've got to say, maybe on reflection, a draw's a fair result.
"Maybe on reflection for myself, after what's happened over the last 24, 48 hours, maybe a decent point for us as well.”