Chris Wilder sets Sheffield United challenge after Leeds United result and Sunderland, Burnley verdict — YEP 26/2/25
By Danny Hall
Chris Wilder sets Sheffield United challenge after Leeds
United result dents title ambitions
Chris Wilder has challenged his Sheffield United side to
bounce back once again after their title hopes were dealt a big blow earlier
this week. The Blades looked good value for a huge three points that would have
taken them above Leeds United and to the top of the table after going 1-0 up
against their rivals on Monday evening, before another late Leeds show saw them
salvage victory themselves.
That leaves Daniel Farke’s men five points clear of United
at the top of the table and seven clear of third-placed Burnley, who closed the
gap between themselves and the Blades to just two points by beating Wednesday
on Friday evening. The manner of defeat was frustrating for United, with two
goals conceded from balls into the box before Joel Piroe’s excellent third from
long-range.
But there is little time to lick wounds with a tough trip to
the capital this weekend to face mid-table QPR, with the tight atmosphere of
Loftus Road guaranteed to provide another mental test for United’s disappointed
players. "I'm not going to beat them up,” said Wilder. “I was delighted
with how we approached the game.
“That's what we wanted it to look like and to make it feel
like that for the opposition. When they go back on the coach I think if they
showed the humility we showed, I think they'll recognise that was pretty tough
game for them. But we fell a little bit short and it was just the manner of the
goals, really. It's a long way to go still.
"I'm respectful to the Sunderland manager and the
Burnley manager as well, there's a lot of football to be played. Monday was
always going to be about putting yourself in a better position than when you
came in at five o'clock or six o'clock, and they've put themselves into a
better position than we have. We had an opportunity to do it and we didn't take
it. They've had an opportunity to do it and took it. So you have to give them
credit for that.
"They've got some outstanding players. We kept the
majority of them pretty quiet for quite a long time but Dan James found that
pass, Junior Firpo found the finish. Pascal Struijk, Firpo, Dan James are
Premier League players and they found those big moments, which they've found
all season.”
Wilder will take comfort from his side’s immense reaction to
adversity so far this season. After losing the first game against Leeds at
Elland Road, followed up by a 1-0 reverse at Middlesbrough, United recovered to
win six of their next seven games and eight of their next 10, with the other
two draws. They have not lost back-to-back games since that point, with QPR
defeated in four of their last six outings ahead of the weekend.
“The boys are disappointed because they've put everything
into it and we wanted to win,” Wilder added. “We set the tone from the off and
the supporters were outstanding. Leeds fans are very vociferous, as we all
know, but we kept them quiet for a long time.
“I think the scoreline's a touch harsh but it's an
incredible finish for the third. You have to take your medicine and quickly
move on. We'll do that. I've been in it long enough to know the season's not
over because we've lost a game of football to an outstanding team.