Sheffield United left to bemoan lost window of opportunity

The Blades had only themselves to blame for West Bromwich Albion’s first league win of the season, taking them out of the relegation zone and widening the Blades’ distance to safety to five points after 10 matches. Poor finishing was the main feature of a 1-0 away defeat, but it also highlighted an issue at the other end.

“We’ve got to give ourselves a fighting chance,” said Wilder, whose side play six times next month. “The longer the (winless) run goes on, the more difficult it becomes, we might get detached if we don’t pick up results.

“Seventeenth is all we’ve got eyes on with the start we’ve had.

“After no wins in 10, you’re usually talking about teams going down but we’ve got to try and stay in contact with teams.”

With 22 chances created and none scored, Wilder did not shy from the fact that bad finishing, not bad luck, cost his team victory, never mind only a second point of the season.

But the Blades also fielded their fifth left-sided centre-back this season, Premier League debutant Kean Bryan, and the manager admits they must address that in January with Jack O’Connell unlikely to play again this season.

“It’s been a problem position,” said Wilder. “Kean’s done enough to start but the game wasn’t decided at left centre-half, the game was decided in their penalty area.

“I’ve made my thoughts clear about what we should have tried to do in the window.

“The general play from back to front was good but everybody knows what Jack’s brought. That and not taking our chances are two big talking points.”

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