“Proper Players Come to the Fore” – Wilder Calls For Experienced Sheffield United Players to Step Up | OneFootball

It was another bitterly disappointing afternoon for Sheffield United as they slipped to a narrow 1–0 defeat away at Hull City.

The match began with the Blades bright in possession, organised at the back, but unable to turn promising positions into goals. Hull’s first real sight of goal came through former United man Regan Slater, whose low drive took a deflection off Mark McGuinness and drifted wide.

Yet it was United who looked the more dangerous side in the opening half-hour. Gustavo Hamer came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when his powerful left-footed strike from the edge of the box cannoned off the near post, leaving the home crowd relieved.

Moments later, however, the game swung sharply against the run of play. Lewie Coyle’s cross from the right found David Akintola at the back post, and the winger showed great composure to chest the ball down before his effort deflected off Chiedozie Ogbene and wrong-footed Michael Cooper and flew into the top right corner.

After the interval, Hull looked more composed but rarely threatened beyond the occasional counter. Former Blade Oli McBurnie nearly punished his old club early in the second half when he pounced on a loose Ben Mee pass, though his outside-foot shot was comfortably saved by Cooper.

United pressed for an equaliser late on. Hamer again went close, and a frantic goalmouth scramble involving substitute Tom Davies somehow stayed out. Their golden opportunity came two minutes from time when Semi Ajayi brought down Danny Ings in the box, but substitute Harrison Burrows’ weak penalty was easily saved by Pandur, who guessed correctly to his right.

Chris Wilder Reflects on Another Defeat For Sheffield United

HULL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 04: Chiedozie Ogbene of Sheffield United runs with the ball under pressure from Liam Millar of Hull City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Hull City and Sheffield United at MKM Stadium on October 04, 2025 in Hull, England. (Photo by Tony King/Getty Images)

Speaking after the match to SUTV, manager Chris Wilder cut a frustrated figure. “We have to take something out of it,” Wilder said.

“Typical Championship game, the process that we all go into in terms of setting the team up, reminding them of how we want to play and the positions that we want to get into and reminding them of the threats the opposition pose. We dealt with the majority of those threats.

“The one time that they found a little bit of quality in the cross, we’ve not dealt with it, and we knew statistically their top four goals scored on crosses and the work that we’ve done in the week. We’ve not replicated that today, stopping the cross and defending inside the goal and allowing them to get their noses in front and the positions that we’ve got to get ourselves into, which we have done.”

The Blades boss spoke about his team’s inability to turn good chances into goals. “We get into those positions and that’s the game-changer,” he added. “It’s loose, it’s rushed, and there’s no sign of the obvious quality these players have got. That final bit has to come.”

Blades Need Experienced Players to Pull Them Through This Period

Wilder was encouraged by the late cameos from Tom Davies and Danny Ings, both of whom made a difference off the bench.

“I thought the introduction of Tom and Danny showed why they’ve played at the highest level. I would’ve loved to have started Tom today but physically he couldn’t do it but he showed the composure and the calmness and the quality he possesses. Danny comes on, makes one run straight away and gets a penalty that we have to score from and obviously we missed.”

Looking ahead, the manager insisted that the international break won’t be a rest period. “We’re working,” he confirmed. “Players have to clear their heads, but this is when proper players come to the fore. Tom and Danny have had proper careers. How do we find the answer? It’s just working on the training ground and repetition and reminders that these players have been good players and from a personal point of view they’ve got to find an answer as well.”

The Blades remain at the foot of the Championship as we head into another international break.