Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder ignores the psychologists and tells his players the truth ahead of West Ham clash

United entered the latest round of Premier League fixtures 12 points adrift of safety with only 15 matches of their season remaining, and knowing that gap could have stretched by the time they face West Ham on Monday.

Although Wilder refuses to accept United’s fate is already sealed, providing several pieces of evidence to support his theory during a briefing with journalists on Saturday morning, he said: “We are going to have to play well. There’s no sugar coating it. Sports psychologists will tell me that’s not the right thing to do, to say so, but that’s the way it is and there, I’ve done it.”

Wilder’s decision to ignore advice to focus on performances rather than outcomes has been supported by United’s results since he effectively warned his squad that defeat was not an option ahead of last month’s FA Cup tie against Bristol Rovers. Since then, they have won six out of nine in all competitions, claiming the scalps of Manchester United, Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion as well as advancing in the quarter-finals of the tournament, where Chelsea await next month.

Noting how Aston Villa were being described as dead and buried towards the end of last term, only to overhaul the four point gap separating them from 17th place during their remaining three outings, Wilder said: “It is a crackers game we are involved in. It’s an unpredictable season. I think you will see a team that’s won only however many, going on a run. It’s not always about the maths. Villa, look how far they were off last year. I think there will be a team that wins a bunch of games. I think we’ve got to win games now. I think we can win games now.”

West Ham were also fighting to avoid the drop last term but are now challenging for a place in Europe after making huge strides forward under David Moyes.

Wilder, who spoke of his admiration for the Scot before travelling to London, said: “There’s always realism from us. We know what we need to do. I don’t want to be in a position where we need snookers. I don’t know what the points total will be. For me, we’ve got to go right until the end. Whether it’s mathematically possible or not. We have an obligation. The players know that and they will do that. They’ve got to give their best right the way through.”

“We did it last year, winning games and we can do it this year,” Wilder continued. “ The biggest thing now, stating the obvious, is that we can’t wait until the end of March or April to do it. Can we chip away at it in the next three or four games. Can we get that gap down to single figures? Then, can we get it down to four or five?”

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