Blades Boss Makes “Full-Blooded Affair” Comment As United Prepare to Host Coventry | OneFootball

League leaders Coventry City make the trip to Bramall Lane on Wednesday evening to face play-off chasing Sheffield United in what promises to be a full-blooded Championship encounter.

The Blades come into the contest on the back of a morale-boosting derby victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday afternoon, a result that not only secured bragging rights in the Steel City but also confirmed the Owls’ relegation. While local pride was at stake, United’s primary focus remains firmly on the race for the play-offs. Chris Wilder’s side sit six points adrift of sixth-placed Wrexham, knowing that any slip-up at this stage of the season could prove costly.

Coventry, meanwhile, arrive in South Yorkshire in impressive form. Frank Lampard’s side have won their last two matches, most recently securing a 2-0 away victory over West Bromwich Albion last weekend. The Sky Blues currently hold a three-point cushion over second-placed Middlesbrough at the top of the table and will be determined to maintain their advantage as the season enters its decisive stretch.

United continue to contend with absentees, as Tom Davies and Sam McCallum remain sidelined. The Blades will also be without Kalvin Phillips, who serves a three-match suspension following his recent red card. However, there is positive news for Wilder with Jairo Riedewald back in contention after returning to full training.

Chris Wilder Gives Selection Update Ahead of Coventry Clash

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Jairo Riedewald of Sheffield United comes on as a substitute for teammate Djibril Soumare of Sheffield United during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Watford at Bramall Lane on October 18, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)

Wilder confirmed that Riedewald had been deliberately prepared for this fixture rather than risked from the bench at the weekend.

“Yes, he’s trained,” Wilder said in his pre-match press conference. “We decided that the best situation for him over the last three or four days would be to train fully. Quite easily could have been a sub against Sheffield Wednesday but we thought, let’s prepare him for the Coventry game, so he’s ready to go.”

Sheffield United Boss Wants Blades to be Committed

The Blades boss also addressed his side’s recent disciplinary issues, insisting that while commitment is non-negotiable, his players must be careful not to cross the line.

“We’re a committed side. We tackle, we compete. We’re not trying to top people,” he explained. “Mistimed tackle by Djibi, the header that Japh should never have been sent off in a million years. Pat, first booking, second booking, and obviously Kalvin’s on Saturday that we’ve talked about.

“I think quite easily that could have been one or two, but it’s five. We have to talk and remind them that, yeah, it makes it difficult for us, and it lessens our opportunity at winning games of football, but I don’t want to take the fire out of my team. I don’t want to take the commitment out of my team. We’ve got to go and win headers and tackles. Coventry have done that. They did it last week against Middlesbrough, and got into them, and found a way to win.

“I think it’s going to be a full-blooded affair. We’ve just got to make sure that we don’t step over that line.”

With promotion and play-off ambitions meeting under the Bramall Lane lights, this game could be one of the best matches of the campaign for the neutrals.