The Sheffield United situation that has Chris Wilder “scratching his head” revealed | OneFootball

Sheffield United moved up to 14th in the table with their 3-1 win over Leicester City

Chris Wilder has revealed he was left scratching his head at times after Sheffield United’s 3-1 win over Leicester City on Thursday evening.

Goals from Japhet Tanganga, Tom Cannon and Callum O’Hare sealed all three points for the Blades, giving them back-to-back victories either side of the new year.

Jordan James pulled one back in stoppage time for the Foxes, but the gap between the two teams is now just two points, with the Yorkshire outfit setting their sights on a play-off push in 2026.

Sheffield United have now won three from their last four, scoring 11 times in the process, moving them to within eight points of the top six.

Wilder’s side reached the play-off final in 2025, but suffered a 2-1 loss to Sunderland to remain in the Championship for another year.

Chris Wilder reveals Sheffield United head scratcher

Wilder has praised the style of Sheffield United’s performance against Leicester, highlighting their front-footed approach by suggesting that the team have an unfair reputation for how they play football.

He believes that there is more to the team than just winning aerial and physical battles, as well as being faster, and that these factors only allow the side to get on the front foot and dominate games on the ground with the ball.

“We were on the front foot from the off, really dominant,” said Wilder, via The Star.

“We talked about the quality of the team that we were playing but we didn't really allow them to breathe or get their heads up.

“We got after them, and played as well.

“I do scratch my head at times but it is quite funny and interesting, that everyone thinks Sheffield United is all about winning headers and tackles and races.

“But we can play as well.

“It can be pretty simplistic, though; if you win races and headers and tackles, and you want to run around, then that ball falls to you a little bit more than it falls to the opposition.

“And it did tonight.

“Then we got into a rhythm and played off the back of that.

“But you can never do the second bit without the first bit, never, not anywhere, not in any league or any division, I don't believe.

“If you give good players moments and time and space and get their head up, then they can hurt you.”

Sheffield United moved up to 14th in the Championship table with their 3-1 win over Leicester on Thursday.

The victory brings the Blades to within eight points of sixth place Preston North End to start the second half of the campaign.

The result also adds pressure to Martí Cifuentes, whose position as Leicester boss is under increasing threat after a difficult first half of the season.

Next up for Sheffield United is a home clash against Oxford United on 4 January in a 12pm kick-off.

Sheffield United’s win against Leicester will have Championship on notice

Sheffield United have turned their form around under Wilder after their disastrous first couple of months of the season.

The Blades’ performance against Cifuentes’ side will have a lot of teams in the division paying close attention, as they are now firing on all cylinders.

Wilder’s team are scoring plenty of goals, and they look to have many different ways of posing a threat in the final third.

If Sheffield United can keep up this form for the remaining months of the season, then they will very much be in the mix for another top six finish when all is said and done in May.