“Loose Again…. Really Poor” – Chris Wilder Doesn’t Hold Back in Assessment of Norwich Performance | OneFootball

Sheffield United dropped all three points on Wednesday evening as Norwich City came from behind to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory in the closing stages at Carrow Road.

The Blades started brightly in Norfolk and looked the more dangerous side early on, with Tom Cannon heavily involved in United’s attacking play. His relentless pressing soon created an opening when he forced a mistake from Kenny McLean, stealing possession before slipping a pass through to Callum O’Hare. The midfielder drove into the penalty area as United began to grow in confidence.

O’Hare then teed up Jairo Riedewald, who met the lay-off with a superbly struck volley that flew past the goalkeeper to give Sheffield United a deserved lead.

Despite going ahead, the visitors gradually retreated deeper into their own half as Norwich began to dominate possession. The hosts almost equalised on 31 minutes when Harry Darling saw his effort deflect wide after striking Tyler Bindon.

Norwich continued to apply pressure and went close again when Kasper Kvistgaarden powered a header towards goal, only for Japhet Tanganga to produce a heroic block on the line to preserve United’s advantage.

The sustained pressure eventually paid off in the 68th minute. From a corner delivered by Jacob Wright, Jack Stacey rose highest in a crowded penalty area to head home the equaliser.

United nearly responded immediately when Cannon met a corner from Harrison Burrows, but his header drifted narrowly wide of the post.

With the momentum firmly on their side, Norwich completed the turnaround late on. In the 84th minute, Paris Maghoma surged forward on the counter-attack before delivering a cross into the box, where Amankwah Forson finished first time to seal the win for the hosts.

Sheffield United Boss Shows Frustration As Blades Drop More Points

After the match, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder expressed his frustration at his side’s inability to build on their early advantage.

“We had some good stuff and not so good stuff,” Wilder said to SUTV. “I’m scratching my head at the amount of times we turned the ball over. For the first half an hour we were really good, deservedly got ourselves in front, quietened the crowd like you want to do away from home.

“But there were still opportunities there to go and get the second and we just didn’t find that connection or rhythm.”

Wilder also pointed to repeated turnovers and poor game management as key factors in Norwich’s comeback.

“Loose again, like we were on Saturday,” he added. “If you turn the ball over to good technical players who are in form, they’re going to come back at you. They apply pressure, the crowd gets behind them, and the energy builds. But from our point of view the manner of the goals we conceded were really poor.”

Lack of Consistency Has Cost the Blades This Season

The United boss also challenged his squad to find greater consistency during the closing stretch of the season.

“There’s been a lot of good things this season, but the challenge now is consistency for the final ten games,” Wilder said. “We’ve played well against teams like Middlesbrough, Coventry, QPR and Leicester, but at other times we haven’t been great.

“There are young players out there; Femi, Tyler, Harrison, Sydie, Brooks, and sometimes that goes amiss. But the responsibility isn’t just on the younger players. There are senior players turning the ball over as well. If we don’t find consistency during games or from game to game, then the season will go the way it’s looking like it might, and it’s up to us to shift that direction.”

Sheffield United are next in action away at Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon.