Why Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder will continue to get on the case of Sydie Peck

Peck's maiden career hat-trick, scored in 18 first-half minutes at Championship basement club Preston North End, was exquisitely timed as United secured back-to-back league wins for the first time since April in a 3-2 success.

Speaking after the triumph, Wilder revealed that he'd had words with the 22-year-old after the recent away game at Portsmouth on October 14 – when he was unhappy with aspects of Peck's performance in the Fratton Park defeat.

Peck found himself benched for United's two next matches.

Regarding the London-born schemer, it's very much a case of tough love as far as Wilder is concerned.

The experienced Blades chief remains a huge fan of Peck, whom he views as a future captain of the club, all being well.

While there was deserved praise at Preston, there was also a caveat.

Wilder, whose side are now up to ninth position – with an eighth-placed finish qualifying for the play-offs in May – said: "He's had a couple of opportunities as well, just after half-time.

"So, as always, it's not letting the players get too ahead of themselves and keeping their feet on the ground.

"Possibly he'll say 'the manager has had a bit of a pop at me because I could have got a couple more'.

"We dug him out at Portsmouth. There were a couple of things there in charging forward in the 92nd minute, when we were down to 10 men, it would have been an unbelievable result. Two-nil down to get back to two each and he's chased the game.

"So I had a little nip at him and Kitch (Liam Kitching), because I think he's got to be a little bit sensible and disciplined.

"But I don't want to stifle him as well (Peck). We've got some good players at the club, and he's one of them."

It was a night when travelling Unitedites sang Wilder's name following the final whistle in a season in which he has also faced some criticism among sections of the club's fanbase.

In his third spell in charge, Wilder continued: "I've got to be given the opportunity to build something. I look at other clubs and they (managers there) have been given that, understanding that we've got to win games.

"As everybody keeps telling me, it's a result-based business. We built off the back of coming out of the Premier League and we would have built there (after). We need to show a tiny smidgen of patience now and again.

"I think I've done that with the players and you've seen the benefits of that now. We're a quarter of the way through the season with 14 games (gone). It's still a load of football to be played and I think there's more growth in the ceiling for this group."

Patrick Bamford (shoulder) and Kalvin Phillips (ankle) missed the trip across the Pennines, but Wilder is hopeful that they could be involved at Charlton Athletic on Saturday in United's final game before the November international hiatus.