Sheffield United Boss Addresses Negative Minority As Blades Look Set For Mid-table Finish | OneFootball

Sheffield United fought back for a hard-earned point in a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City despite playing much of the game with ten men, pushing the Blades to the 50-point mark for the season.

While the result demonstrated resilience and character, it also highlighted the growing challenge facing Chris Wilder’s side, who now sit ten points adrift of the Championship’s top six as the season moves into its final stretch.

A Tough Run of Games For the Blades

The draw at St Andrew’s with ten men capped a frustrating week for United, who dropped valuable points in their previous matches.

At Bramall Lane, the Blades appeared on course for victory against West Bromwich Albion before surrendering their lead in the final ten minutes to draw 1-1. United had created several clear opportunities during the match but were unable to find the second goal that would have secured all three points.

Just days later, another opportunity slipped away when Norwich City turned the game around in the second half to claim victory. United had taken the lead in the first half and could have extended their advantage before the break, but Norwich responded strongly after halftime to flip the match on its head.

The run of results has left United frustrated, knowing they could be much closer to the playoff places.

Chris Wilder Hits Back at Negative Minority in the Sheffield United Fanbase

Following the draw with Birmingham, Wilder addressed what he described as a growing sense of negativity among a small section of the fanbase.

Speaking honestly, the Blades manager admitted the criticism had affected him.

“I’ve been a bit disappointed this week with the minority negativity towards the players and everybody, I’ll be honest about it,” Wilder said to SUTV.

“If I was a 31-year-old manager I wouldn’t want to upset people and this that and the other but I’m way past that. It’s hurt me a little bit because I think it’s unjust.”

Wilder pointed to the reaction following United’s recent results, arguing that some criticism had overlooked the context of the performances.

“We came away from the QPR game two weeks ago and we’re all feeling good about ourselves, worked hard to get a result in West London and it was great at the end of the game. Didn’t get the result we wanted vs West Brom, we had four really good chances but it wasn’t a great performance, I get that.”

He also rejected suggestions that players had mentally checked out of the campaign.

“I hear nonsense about how they’ve turned it in, they can’t wait for the season to finish. That is so lazy and so disrespectful in my opinion to the culture of the club.

As if I would pick a player who didn’t try. As if I would motivate a team not to try.”

Wilder: “No Guarantees”

Wilder emphasised that while the team are disappointed not to be closer to the playoff positions, expectations must be grounded in reality.

When he returned to Bramall Lane earlier in the season, the Blades had lost their opening six matches, and he stressed that there were never guarantees about climbing into the top six.

“My prerogative as manager of this football club is to go right until the end of the season and I will do. If it’s not enough it’s not enough but there was no guarantees when I walked through the door when they’d played six, lost six.”

Despite the frustration, Wilder praised the supporters who travelled and backed the team throughout the match.

“We were sold out here and the away fans were unbelievable all game. We’re a football club that’s together but maybe we’re not on certain aspects. We were together [against Birmingham].”

Reaching 50 points represents a milestone after the club’s disastrous start to the campaign, but the reality is that United now face an uphill battle to force their way into the playoff race. Let’s not forget, the Blades were in the top three for the vast majority of last season and suffered a brutal last minute defeat at Wembley in the play-off final against Sunderland.

With the gap to the top six currently sitting at ten points, Wilder’s side may need a near-perfect finish to the season, as well as help elsewhere, to keep their promotion hopes alive.