Chris Wilder "annoyed" by unwanted Sheffield United trait v Derby County as Blades fail to land knockout blow
Chris Wilder accused Sheffield United of lacking urgency in the first half of a frustrating draw at Derby County, admitting he considered widespread changes at half-time before his side were denied a winner by inspired Rams goalkeeper Jacob Zetterstrom
Chris Wilder was frustrated with his Sheffield United players' attitude in the first half of their entertaining draw at Derby County this afternoon, accusing them of needing "a poke" to get going in a game that sparked into life after the break. The Blades faced 10 men for more than half an hour but could only find a way past inspired Rams goalkeeper Jacob Zetterstrom once.
Dion Sanderson's red card was the catalyst for United to throw everything at Derby in pursuit of an equaliser but some fine saves from Zetterstrom kept them at bay after Patrick Bamford equalised, hurting himself in the process and being immediately withdrawn.
The introduction of Romelle Donovan from the bench helped provide the spark that United had been missing in a poor first-half display, which saw them go behind to Bobby Clark's strike after goalkeeper Michael Cooper had kept them in the game with a couple of smart saves.
Derby travelled to Sheffield second bottom of the Championship and with one win all season, but were good value for their lead until United eventually sparked into life. And Wilder admitted: “I was really frustrated and disappointed with our first-half performance.
“I thought maybe the team thought that the game would come to them. We talked about returning players, being back to Bramall Lane and the competitive aspects of the games against Derby, which they've always been.
“But we gave them the game that they wanted first half, and that was down to us. Down to us and our approach. I thought we were too passive. We were too quick in possession, too slow in possession.
“We gave away the ball when we needed to have control. We went long when we needed to shorten things up. Out of possession, we lost too many first and second balls, and we never got up to the ball.”
The message was delivered strongly at half-time, when Wilder admits he was considering replacing as many as nine players. Only Cooper and Kalvin Phillips in midfield were given any credit.
"And it felt, and I shouted on about two or three times, that we needed a poke of some sort to get us going. Which was annoying," Wilder added. "And the poke came in the form of the goal.
"I talked to the players at half-time. Well, as you can imagine, a little bit stronger than talk. A lot of them players were on the clock in the second half, right the way through the team. Everybody's brother was playing first half apart from Kalvin and Coops.
"And we turned up second half. Tried to get back into the game and the sending off helps us, of course. But I've got to say we have to win from that position.
“The goalkeeper's made some huge saves for his team. A couple of things that could have fallen for us didn't. But when we have got the opposition on the ropes, as we did, we have to win."