Simonsen retains his Blades berth

The Blades goalkeeper endured a difficult night against Huddersfield Town in midweek and was jeered by supporters during the 3-0 defeat at Bramall Lane.

Although teenager George Long, one of the heroes of the team that reached last season’s FA Youth Cup final, is pushing for a place, Wilson says Simonsen will start again tomorrow against Colchester United.

“My faith is still there and Steve’s a good goalkeeper who has had a very good start to the season,” Wilson said. “Apart from one game, where we have conceded three goals, we have been very mean in that area of the field so far this season.”

Simonsen, 32, failed to hold a shot from winger Danny Ward in the build-up to Town’s opening goal on Tuesday night and that allowed Lee Novak to score from close range.

Wilson, however, says Simonsen was not solely to blame.

“There were lots of areas we could analyse before we even got to ‘Simmo’ but that’s not what we do. We are not here to say ‘this person or that person’ has cost us.

“We are a team and we are not going to turn around and start pointing fingers,” he added. “It won’t be the first time a goalkeeper makes a mistake and it won’t be the last. If you believe in someone, like I do, a small thing like that doesn’t make you fall out.”

With Estonian international Mihkel Aksalu nursing a long-term injury, Wilson took goalkeeper Matt Duke on trial this summer but he has subsequently signed for Bradford City.