"It's not FIFA..." — Chris Wilder's verdict as Sheffield United fail to capitalise on Leeds United slip-up — Sheffield Star 5/4/25
By Danny Hall
Chris Wilder, the Sheffield United manager, rejected any
suggestions that his players' attitudes was a factor as they lost 1-0 at Oxford
United this afternoon.
The Blades kicked off knowing that victory would have opened
up a four-point advantage over third-placed Leeds United after they could only
draw at Luton Town.
But Daniel Farke's men ended up cutting the gap to the
Blades to a single point after Siriki Dembele's first-half winner sealed a
crucial three points for the U's and punctured United's impressive away record.
United had chances, with home goalkeeper Jamie Cunning named
man of the match after making saves to repel Harrison Burrows, Sydie Peck and
Tyrese Campbell, but didn't deserve anything from the game based on their
disjointed performance at the Kassam Stadium.
Speaking afterwards, Wilder said: "I didn't see it
coming. Listen, it's not an attitude problem, because they can't play 39, 40
games or whatever and sulk and walk about and not try, or not give everything.
"It was just the other part of it. We were just off of
it. From the start, the two centre forwards never held the ball up. The
midfield players made some bad decisions with the ball.
"It's not FIFA...”
"The two wides never really gave us anything. The
quality from the full-backs wasn't very good. When we tried to build and gain
some momentum, it was too slow and allowed them to get in.
"It was a slow pitch and it was a dry day and we have
to recognise that we have to play a little bit quicker and maybe a little bit
more direct.
"We tried to force little balls through even late on.
They clogged the middle of the park up, so you've got to go wide. It's pretty
simple.
"There's a game plan. We put a game plan to them, but
the game plan is to help the players in possession and out of possession. So,
if something changes, we've got to make better decisions to say: 'We've got to
do something else off the back of that.'
"It's not FIFA. We didn't do the basics right in terms
of just overall keeping the ball and playing and moving the ball quick
enough."
United went clear at the top of the table after beating
Coventry City last Friday but are now second, a point adrift of new leaders
Burnley - who beat Coventry City earlier in the day - and one ahead of
third-placed Leeds.
"As much as we talked about how good Friday night was -
and for me it was seven and eights out of 10 - we've collectively come together
and produced fives and maybe a couple of sixes," added Wilder, whose side
can get back on the horse quickly at home to Millwall in midweek.
"So, we have to deal with that. We have to get on with
it. We have to get back on the bus, get ready and prepare for Tuesday."