Southampton 3 Sheffield United 0 - ‘If he wasn’t the manager of the team I would hire him now’ Blades owner backs Chris Wilder

Goals from former Blades striker Che Adams, Stuart Armstrong and Nathan Redmond saw the visitors return north with just one point from their first dozen matches.

The Blades have now become the first Premier League team since QPR in 2012 to fail to win in their first 12 matches, but boss Wilder remains convinced of his quest to reverse that slump.

The Prince was present at St Mary’s yesterday to watch the Blades but spoke to the media before kick-off.

“It has been a tough season so far but I’m optimistic we can turn things around,” he said.

“When you have to make a decision, you’d better make it right. I could say that Chris has earned the right to stay because he won us two promotions in the last three years, but that is not how I look at it.

“If we get relegated, I’m set to lose big money so the decision to keep Chris is simply because I think he is the best manager to take us out of the current situation.

“I believe in him, if he wasn’t the manager of the team I would hire him now and if the worst comes to the worst and we are relegated, I believe he is the manager to take us back quickly.”

Lifelong United fan Wilder has taken the Blades from League One to the Premier League – finishing ninth last term – but this season has struggled for results.

“As far as I know Chris wants to stay and we want him to stay,” the Prince added.

“This year has been tough but I still have hope. It’s a long season, but we will stick with Chris no matter what.

“I talk to Chris all the time, I met with him Friday and we’re always in contact. We discussed the situation of the team, the January window and a lot of things. I like to talk to him, I was here so I met him and we had a very good talk.”

As for Wilder, he is determined to keep grafting his way out of trouble.

“Whatever the owner needs to say that’s down to him, I’ll respect that,” said Wilder.

“I get on with my job, I get up in the morning, have a shower, come in bright and do my work to the best of my ability. And that’s what we all do.

“They were the better side today. You can’t afford to make that mistake for the first goal and when an opportunity comes you have to take it and we didn’t.

“Both those things in the first half set it up for a really difficult afternoon for us.”

Wilder’s basement side appear desperately short on both confidence and ideas, with a positive January transfer window already appearing vital in their top-flight safety bid.

Saints clearly sensed a vulnerability in the Blades’ defence, launching a number of raking balls over the top designed to bisect the visiting centre-backs.

The hosts never quite managed to make that ploy pay in the first half, coming closest when Adams played in Danny Ings, only for Aaron Ramsdale to pull off a fine save. The move was then chalked off in any case, by the belated offside flag.

Sander Berge then fluffed the Blades’ sole opening of the half, failing to connect cleanly with Enda Stevens’ teasing low cross.

The Blades battled and scrapped for everything, but repeatedly crossed the line into niggly foul territory with Oli McBurnie the chief agitator.

McBurnie’s mischief backfired though when an acrobatic fall in a tackle left him nursing a shoulder injury and requiring several minutes of treatment before returning to the fray.

Saints always had the upper hand, dominating midfield and revelling in Hasenhuttl’s high press.

And the hosts took the deserved lead when Adams stabbed in after a free-kick.

The Blades failed to clear their lines, Jan Bednarek battled for a header but flicked back in off his shoulder - and Adams reacted first and fastest to turn the ball home.

Saints continued to dominate after the break, keeping control despite a humdrum opening quarter-hour.

The hosts doubled their lead just past the hour mark though, when Armstrong’s long-range shot was deflected by Phil Jagielka and into the net.

The wrong-footed Ramsdale had no chance of a save, with the Blades similarly out of the running for any kind of south-coast comeback.

Ings should have made it three when played in by Adams again, but Ramsdale produced a fine save to thwart the fit-again Saints striker.

Redmond did provide a third however, the former Norwich and Birmingham winger trading passes with Oriol Romeu before powering into the box and delivering a crisp finish.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has insisted his side can sustain their strong start to the Premier League season, after claiming their seventh win in 12 games this term.

“I recognise the steps we have made, this is very obvious in every part of our game, and it’s not one part we’re looking for,” said Hasenhuttl. “Even set-pieces are getting better and better. I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t continue what we’re doing at this moment.”

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