Chris Wilder addresses Michael Cooper question marks as two Sheffield United moments v Leicester City sum up Blades
Chris Wilder addresses Michael Cooper question marks as two Sheffield United moments v Leicester City sum up Blades
They were two small moments, in a gutsy victory over Leicester City that showcased both sides of their game, that also highlighted a lot about the mentality of the Sheffield United dressing room. The first came just seconds after Jordan James’ strike had set up a grandstand finish.
The ball had swerved in the air viciously and caught out Michael Cooper, the United goalkeeper, completely. He was powerless to stop it crashing into the middle of the net and as he stood stationary, and the home fans celebrated vigorously, teammate Sydie Peck let rip at his teammate.
It showed a couple of things, not that they were necessary. For one, these players care. They are hurting at the situation they have found themselves in this season after a horror start and are frustrated that they couldn’t turn things around earlier.
Peck, despite his tender years, is one of this squad’s leaders. Earlier he had scored his second goal in as many games - after ending his 65-game wait for a first senior strike in Blades colours - and as Leicester upped the tempo, there was a chance his stunning volley could ultimately count for very little.
But in the end it did as United saw out a 3-2 victory, their third in a week. At the final whistle Peck joined skipper Japhet Tanganga and Chris Wilder in making a beeling straight for Cooper, who had earlier made an uncharacteristic mistake to allow Leicester back into the game at 3-1.
Chris Wilder addresses Michael Cooper question marks as two Sheffield United moments v Leicester City sum up the Blades
Just as the earlier frustration had shown how much these players care, so did that moment. Peck embraced Cooper in a big bear hug and all seemed to be forgotten; a perfect encapsulation of this squad’s togetherness, in good times as well as bad.
“Yeah, it was obviously a nervy ending,” admitted boss Wilder afterwards. “But, I have to say, I thought our first half performance was outstanding. We got everything right in the approach, the attitude, how clinical we were.
“But I’ve been in the game a long time and you do have it stuck at you when you’re 3-0 down at half-time. The game becomes easy. You can afford to take risks, because everybody thinks the game's done and dusted.
“So I still felt it was always a dangerous game, especially when Michael made that mistake. I thought we started the second half pretty well as well, but Michael's made that mistake, which he obviously has to own.
“But he's in credit, as anyone who’s watched us for a long time will know. And then the atmosphere changes around the place. They're chasing a lost cause.”
Cooper’s uncharacteristic moment saw him inexplicably pull away from a cross that was sailing over his head, perhaps expecting it to go out for a goal-kick. Instead it fell to Foxes’ star man Stephy Mavididi, who duly cut the deficit.
The second one didn’t look great either from Cooper’s point of view, although the ball did swerve wickedly this way and that after rifling off James’ boot, and Peck’s frustration was evident. But United saw out the remaining minutes, plus four of added time, before soaking up the deserved acclaim from their travelling fans.
“He was obviously disappointed,” Wilder said of Cooper. “He's set the bar really high since he's walked through the door. He's made some outstanding saves. Sometimes you just deal with it. I'm expecting the ball just to go out of play.
“But him and Femi [Seriki] get caught up a little bit. He has to deal with it. He understands that. I think maybe he possibly would look at that. I was right behind the second one. It was a fabulous strike, but it moved all over the place. He may be a little bit disappointed, but he's fine.
“I think that just shows the camaraderie of the group and the togetherness of the group, which you need and which is key for me and my outlook and attitude. We have to be all in. We have to be all in. If you do make a mistake, it doesn't, hopefully, cost you a result. Maybe the other boys will bail him out later on when they're piling it on.”