“We’re looking to continue in the way we left off” – Chris Wilder bangs drum ahead of Sheffield United’s visit to Hull | OneFootball

Sheffield United head to East Yorkshire on Friday to face Tim Walter’s Hull City as they return from the international break. The Blades, led by Chris Wilder, come into the match in solid form, having secured two wins and two draws from their opening four fixtures.

In contrast, Hull City have endured a slow start to their Championship campaign, managing just three draws before suffering a 2-0 defeat to Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.

While Sheffield United may have been reluctant to pause their momentum for the international break, Hull City likely welcomed the time off, hoping to regroup after their early struggles. As the two sides prepare to clash, it promises to be a fiercely contested match.

HULL, ENGLAND – AUGUST 24: Tim Walter, Manager of Hull City, looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Hull City AFC and Millwall FC at MKM Stadium on August 24, 2024 in Hull, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Chris Wilder previews Sheffield United’s visit to Hull City

In the lead-up to Friday’s match, Chris Wilder provided an update, to SUTV, on the fitness of his squad, though he was tight-lipped on specifics.

“We’ve got a few doubts amongst the group, as you can imagine, but I’m not going to give anything away. We’ll do our best to get the boys who are doubtful back for Friday night.”

Sheffield United ended their last game before the break with an emphatic win over one of the most in-form teams in the Championship, Watford, a result that has given the team plenty of confidence heading into this next stage of the season. Wilder was full of praise for his side’s performance and the energy they brought to the game.

“We’re looking to continue in the way we left off with an outstanding performance and result against a team at the top of the division,” he said. “I loved the feel of it. I understand that we might have to be a little bit more calm towards the end of games from a discipline point of view, but I loved the feel of it.”

Although not a Yorkshire derby that most people circle on their calendar when the fixtures come out, Wilder acknowledged the competitive nature of Sheffield United’s trips to Hull, pointing out the history between the two clubs.

“I always think it has the feel of a local derby. There’s a lot of history between us, and it’s always a tough place to go. Fortunately, we’ve had really good results and performances there recently.”

Wilder’s reference to a 3-0 halftime lead at the KCOM Stadium during a previous visit, back in the 2018/19 campaign, highlights the Blades’ positive record in East Yorkshire – United have won four of the last five away games in the Championship against Hull. But, Wilder cautioned that Hull City will be desperate to turn their fortunes around.

“It’s not Sheffield Wednesday, and maybe not Leeds, but it’s still a tough place to go, and they’ll be looking to get their first win of the season,” Wilder added.