Chris Wilder declares Newcastle United are his inspiration | OneFootball

Chris Wilder has often spoke well about Newcastle United.

As was the case ahead of Sheffield United playing at St James’ Park at the end of April 2024.

Chris Wilder and the Blades on their way to the Championship but that didn’t stop him speaking passionately about Newcastle United, ahead of that game on Tyneside.

The Blades boss saying; “Nowhere better to go than up the road to St James’ Park, in terms of the atmosphere, the vibrancy and all the emotion that gets attached to that game. Newcastle United) is one of my favourite clubs, one of my favourite teams to watch. I have enormous admiration for Eddie’s career and how he has gone about it. They have got some fabulous players, an incredible environment, one we can really look forward to going to and hopefully leaving everything out there…”

Sheffield United actually took a shock lead after five minutes and played really well, Isak equalising but the score 1-1 until Bruno put NUFC in the lead on 54 minutes and Newcastle eventual 5-1 winners, to go with the 8-0 earlier in the season at Bramall Lane.

Anyway, almost exactly a year later, Chris Wilder had declared that he is looking towards Newcastle United for inspiration.

Sheffield United had third place confirmed on Monday when losing to Burnley, with the Blades missing out on automatic promotion as Leeds and Burnley fill the top two places.

Sheffield United will have a favourites chance in the play-offs but history is damning for them, the Blades have had eight promotion play-off campaigns and been successful in not a single one.

Chris Wilder has had some personal success in play-offs when in charge at Oxford, but has now namechecked Newcastle United as an inspiration for Sheffield United to make it ninth time lucky…

“There’ll be a time to put that record to bed and hopefully the time is this season.

“As a perfect example, everyone thought Newcastle would get turned over in the Carabao Cup but they had a day and a night to remember.

“It will happen. Sheffield United will win play-off semi-finals and will win a play-off final. And it’s about time that they did it.”

With Sunderland guaranteed fourth place and also in the play-offs, good luck to Chris Wilder and Sheffield United on finally finding play-off success.