Wilson sure Blades can provide the answers to pull out of their slump

MANAGER Danny Wilson admits he and his Sheffield United players must be prepared to take some flak following their disappointing recent dip in results and says it is up to them to find a remedy for their poor form.

The Blades switch to FA Cup business at Reading tomorrow, which may be no bad thing given the club’s run of just one win in their last five games – the third-round defeat of Oxford United.

Wilson believes there are mitigating circumstances behind the run which threatens their hopes of a top-two finish in League One.

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Among them is the club’s alarming injury count which is currently depriving them of key senior players such as Neill Collins and Matt Hill along with goalkeeper Mark Howard and striker Shaun Miller.

While he remains confident the Blades’ fortunes will take an upturn when his senior men return, Wilson insists his side must soldier on.

He said: “The injuries have taken a toll, to a fair degree. Some of the senior players have been a miss and the sooner we can get them back, I think we will see an upturn in fortunes.

“No one can argue that when we have lost our better players, sometimes our performances have not been up to the standards we have set ourselves.

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“We cannot dress that up, it is a fact. But we have to get on with it.

“When you are going through a blip like this at a club of this size, people are going to question you. We have got to make sure we come up with the answers.

“By any stretch of the imagination, there is certainly no lack of belief in what we set out to achieve and what we can.”

Wilson believes the Capital One Cup exploits of Bradford City in sinking Aston Villa over two legs to reach a Wembley final can provide inspiration for his side towards success in the FA Cup.

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He said: “The players have chatted about what Bradford achieved. It is about your energy, work-rate and attitude, which can make you come out on top.”

Wilson is not envisaging transfer cash will come his way if United see off Premier League Reading, the Blades boss confirming no recruitment will be undertaken unless players leave.