“I don’t think….” – Wilder’s Brutally Honest Assessment on Sheffield United’s Draw vs Norwich | OneFootball

Sheffield United extended their unbeaten run to six matches but were denied a fifth straight victory after being held to a draw in an encounter with Norwich City.

Danny Ings’ long-awaited goal looked set to give United control, but an unfortunate Djibril Soumaré own goal brought the visitors level in a game Chris Wilder described as one of the toughest his squad has faced.

United started brightly, with Tom Cannon and Femi Seriki combining early before Cannon’s shot was blocked. Norwich responded with an effort dragged wide, and the visitors nearly took the lead when Ings had to head a Josh Sargent effort off the line after Michael Cooper was beaten.

Harrison Burrows continued to threaten, forcing a save from a free-kick and seeing Ings miss from the resulting corner, while the forward also volleyed over from Tahith Chong’s cross before the break.

The Blades came out strong in the second half and almost struck immediately as Burrows’ low cross flashed across goal, evading both Cannon and Chong. Ings finally found the breakthrough moments later, tapping in Chong’s driven delivery down the right.

But United’s grip on the match loosened as the visitors pushed back. Norwich seized on a loose ball in the area, and a low cross into the six-yard box deflected off Soumaré for an equaliser on 65 minutes. Gustavo Hamer forced the Norwich stopper into a strong save soon after and Patrick Bamford headed over from the resulting corner, but it was Cooper who preserved the point late on with a crucial fingertip stop to deny the substitute Forson on the counter after a slip from Seriki.

Chris Wilder’s Honest Assessment On Sheffield United Draw With Norwich City

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 09: Harrison Burrows of Sheffield United looks dejected following the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Norwich City at Bramall Lane on December 09, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

After the match, Chris Wilder admitted that a combination of injuries, illness and a punishing schedule had taken their toll on his side’s performance and selection options.

“I don’t think we deserved anything more than a point,” he said to SUTV. “Disappointed having got ourselves in the position we were, but it wasn’t the greatest of performances. I just wish people knew what I’ve had to manage in the last 24-48 hours to get a team out there, where we have to make physical substitutions.

It is easy for people to say things, but I know people can’t play Tuesday and Friday, players that are coming off injured or been out, the illness we’ve had to contend with. It is possibly one of the hardest games we’ve had to deal with for a long while.”

Wilder was also keen to highlight the team’s recent efforts in gruelling fixtures. “We didn’t get the credit we deserved from the Stoke game,” he continued. “Then we’ve been hit with the schedule again, another three games in six days. We have to plot our way through and every decision we made were physical decisions, including the likes of Arblaster and Gus [Hamer].”

The Blades travel to West Bromwich on Friday night looking to extend their unbeaten streak to seven against a Baggies side that have conceded eight goals in their last three matches.