Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder defends his team

United entered the game in confident mood after securing back to back victories over Bristol Rovers and Newcastle, but quickly found themselves in trouble when Serge Aurier headed the visitors into an early lead.

Although David McGoldrick reduced the deficit after Harry Kane had stretched Spurs’ advantage just before the break, a piece of individual brilliance from Tanguy Ndombele settled the contest.

Speaking afterwards, Wilder expressed disappointment at the timing and manner of the goals United conceded but noted they were once again unable to name a full complement of substitutes on the bench.

“We don’t have the numbers at the moment (to change things around),” Wilder said, after revealing Ben Osborn has joined Sander Berge, Jack O’Connell, Jack Rodwel, Lys Mousset and Oli McBurnie on United’s casualty list. “We don’t have the option to do that and some were off the pace a little bit, yes. They looked a little bit tired and leggy, which I suppose is inevitable because they really are putting it all in.”

“This league finds you out when you aren’t near perfect,” Wilder added. “It still amazes me when people think we have a divine right against a team like Spurs. The conditioning of these lads, the ones at the very top of the top, it always amazes me too. They have the ability to go game after game and they also have that ability to freshen it up.”

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