Sheffield United boss reveals 'tough talks' have taken place after his side's Premier League survival hopes suffered a double blow

With goals from Declan Rice, Issa Diop and Ryan Fredericks condemning United to their 19th loss of the campaign, Wilder’s men will enter Saturday’s game against Fulham 14 points adrift of safety and staring relegation in the face.

United, who could be without John Egan for the foreseeable future after the centre-half left the London Stadium on a stretcher, now require a dramatic sequence of results to avoid returning to the Championship two years after being promoted.

Asked if his team’s performance against David Moyes side was their season in microcosm, Wilder, who accused United of “gift-wrapping” the opposition two of their three efforts, told The Star: “It’s a long walk back from the technical area to the dug outs and, if you had put a mike on me, you would have heard me saying that.

“We create chances. We don’t take them. We make mistakes. We get punished. It epitomises the past five months or so. I must bore Al (assistant manager Alan Knill) and the rest of the staff by saying the same things all the time. But those are the things that are happening.

“This is not a shape issue. It’s not a tactical thing. It is straightforward things that are costing us. We had more possession than them, but they (West Ham) don’t make mistakes.”

Asked if Egan would be returning to South Yorkshire or remaining in the capital for treatment after having a leg encased in a protective shield, Wilder added: “I’ve had a tough chat with the players, a tough talk, as you can imagine. So apologies to John, but I’m not to sure at the moment what is happening with him.”

Although Wilder refused to call time on United’s battle to avoid the drop, he conceded the manner of their loss to West Ham had seen the visitors take a “backward step” after beating the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle in recent weeks.

“It’s a big set back for us, there’s no doubt about it,” Wilder, who confirmed John Fleck missed the contest through illness, acknowledged. “We’ve got to pick ourselves up, because we don’t have the fans here to lift us. We’ve had terrific support from them but, with some of these results, that’s probably going to be wearing thin and we have to take that criticism on the chin.”

Moyes, whose side finished the match in fourth, admitted United had caused his players “problems” during a fixture which saw Rice fire then in front from the penalty spot before Diop and Fredericks were on target after the break. The Scot also lavished praise on Jesse Lingard, the Manchester United midfielder, who joined West Ham on loan after interesting Wilder during the winter transfer window before his recruitment budget was removed.

“I thought he was great,” Moyes said, assessing Lingard’s contribution. “He gives us a real attacking outlet, which is something we needed.”

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