“We’ve Delivered on A Huge Week” – Chris Wilder on Three Consecutive Wins And His “Challenge” to Sheffield United Players | OneFootball

Sheffield United’s resurgence gathered even more momentum as Chris Wilder’s side recorded their third win in six days and their third straight game scoring three goals, with a hard-fought 3-2 triumph away at Leicester City.

United flew out of the blocks and needed less than two minutes to break the deadlock. Leicester’s attempt to clear a routine ball went badly wrong, allowing Andre Brooks to pounce. Although the Foxes briefly regained control, they immediately gifted possession back, this time to Tom Cannon inside the box.

The striker reacted sharply, slipping a neat pass to Femi Seriki on the overlap. Seriki’s burst to the by-line and driven cross sent panic through the six-yard area, and amid the scramble Cannon stayed alert to smash home from close range.

Barely three minutes later, United doubled their advantage. Harrison Burrows’ corner was only partially cleared, dropping kindly at the edge of the area for Callum O’Hare. The midfielder struck a speculative effort through a crowded box, and a decisive deflection off Jairo Riedewald wrong-footed the goalkeeper before nestling into the bottom corner.

United remained firmly in command, and their set-piece threat delivered again on 32 minutes. Another Burrows corner was cleared only as far as Sydie Peck lurking on the edge of the box. The young midfielder unleashed a stunning first-time dipping volley that arced beautifully into the corner, his second goal in as many games and a strike of real quality.

At 3-0, Wilder’s side were in total control, while Leicester appeared flat and frustrated as they trudged off at the break. The hosts finally found some spark after half-time. In the 53rd minute, Abdul Fatawu’s teasing cross found Stephy Mavididi arriving unmarked at the back post, and the winger’s composed finish gave Leicester their first effort on target and a glimmer of hope.

On 83 minutes they were rewarded for their high intensity approach late on as James drifted into space 25 yards out and unleashed a drive that flew beyond Michael Cooper, cutting the deficit to one and setting up a tense ending.

But United, stretched and tiring after a demanding week, dug deep to preserve their lead and closed out a huge victory.

Chris Wilder Hails Sheffield United Players After “Outstanding” Win

Sheffield United striker Tom Cannon celebrates putting his team 1-0 up against Leicester City. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).

Speaking to SUTV, Chris Wilder was full of praise for his players after an exhausting but hugely productive week:

“I’ve got a together group, I’ve got an honest group, they’re fighting for each other. There was a lot of tired bodies out there, we had to do what we had to do tactically to try and see it out.

“We were a bit disappointed, as I said, just after half-time, it took a mistake for them to get back in the game and then it’s down to two and anything can happen. Next goal is incredibly important and they got it, but from a character point of view second half, from a football point of view first half, absolutely outstanding.

“We’ve delivered on a huge week for the football club, and we’ve got to keep delivering, that’s my challenge to the players, keep going.

“Outstanding. Some tired legs at the end. I told you about the schedule, we’ve been punished possibly more than anybody to go Sunday afternoon in an emotional game like we had at Hillsborough, to go in to Wednesday night and get the job done, and then to come here. You look at the teamsheet and the players they’ve got and especially what we did to them in the first half, we absolutely dismantled them, we were outstanding.

Even the first ten minutes of the second half. It rocked us when Michael [Cooper] made that error, but he’s done enough in his short Sheffield United career to own a mistake. Then the boy scores a great goal and gets them back in it and then we did what we had to do.”

Blades Boss on Peck’s Sublime Goal

Wilder also reserved special praise for Sydie Peck, whose remarkable dipping volley made it two goals in two games:

“It’s the old buses one isn’t it… The old taxi on a cold night, you’re waiting, you’re waiting, you’re waiting and then two rock up on West Street. Great for Sydie and great for the players, we were together and you saw it at the end, when we scored and when we had to change it up.”

With three wins on the bounce, each featuring three goals, Sheffield United suddenly look like the team that finished third last season in terms of a resiliency and gritty defending point of view. Add to that their newly found attacking fluidity and they look set to continue their climb up the table.