Sheffield United v Wrexham Chris Wilder says Sheffield United are doing better than some supporters realise, but he wants a win at home to Wrexham to emphasis that.

The Blades have had a difficult start to 2026-27, with financial issues leading to a transfer window when key players – such as Callum O'Hare, who will be playing for the away side at Bramall Lane on Friday – had to be sold and replaced with free transfers and loan signings.

They went into the international break 18th with nine points from eight games, but Wilder always said things would improve after it. Although it will be a slightly false position with the Blades playing before anyone else, victory on Friday would move them to within a point of the play-off places.

They had a similar opportunity last Saturday, kicking off at 12.30pm against Derby County, but failed to take full advantage, and the 1-1 draw against a team reduced to 10 men in the second half has not helped the frustration amongst some supporters.

Wilder believes there are some he will never win over.

"I don't think you ever do at times, whatever club you're at," he said.

"So, I can't waste my time thinking about that. We went to Wembley (in the 2025 Championship play-off final) and some punters didn't even want to go because they were that negative about it.

"I suppose when we didn't get that result at Wembley in the 97th minute (Tommy Watson scored Sunderland's winner in the fifth added minute), when we were down to 10 men (with Anel Ahmedhodzic off the field injured), some punters said it justified their decision.

IMPROVEMENT: Manager Chris Wilder sees Sheffield United on the rise (Image: Simon Bellis / Sportimage)

placeholder image — IMPROVEMENT: Manager Chris Wilder sees Sheffield United on the rise (Image: Simon Bellis / Sportimage)

"I'll try and put a team out there that's competitive, which we are. I told everybody about getting to the international break and was having a little bit of a reset off the back of a challenging first part of the season, which we've undoubtedly had, I would say possibly more than the majority of clubs in this division.

"We've come through it. We've started to win games. Wolves and Stoke (two defeats) were results that possibly should have gone our way, but didn't and have got three points at Lincoln, we should have got a result at Portsmouth and three points against Bristol City.

"That was six points from three games and one in the middle (the 3-2 defeat at Portsmouth).

"Derby, it's two point lost because, in my opinion, we should have won that game but we ran out of time.

FIN MARGINS: Tommy Watson celebrates scoring Sunderland's Championship play-off final winner against Sheffield United (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

"The trends, statistically, are moving forward, which we were after.

"More box action, more positivity at the top of the pitch, more touches in the opponent's boxes and stuff like that.

"There's three quarters of a season to go."

Despite that, he admits a win on Friday will lift spirits.

"Everybody looks at results," he said. "Don't kid yourselves, everybody looks at it, whether it's after five games, 10 games, 15 games. Everybody wants to get off to a good start. The biggest thing is that we go all out to get an important home win. I believe in this group and it's going to be a bit of a rollercoaster for every team in this division.

"It would be great to take the opportunity and have a Saturday relaxing and looking at everybody else being under the same pressure when they're playing on gameday."