Chris Wilder answers Sheffield United disciplinary “problem” question as Blades walk fine line ahead of Coventry City clash
Chris Wilder answers Sheffield United disciplinary “problem” question as Blades walk fine line ahead of Coventry City clash
Chris Wilder, the Sheffield United manager, has rejected the suggestion that his side’s disciplinary record is becoming an issue, despite admitting that they have to avoid stepping over the line in the promotion run-in. Kalvin Phillips became the fifth United man to be sent off in the space of eight games in Sunday’s derby win over rivals Wednesday.
He will now miss the next three games at a time when he was just showing signs of getting his career going again, beginning with tomorrow’s mouthwatering clash with league leaders Coventry City at Bramall Lane.
Joe Rothwell will also miss that one after his debut red card in defeat to Middlesbrough earlier this month but Jairo Riedewald is back available for selection and Tom Davies is nearing a return, although United are taking a longer-term view on his fitness situation.
Other recent red cards included midfielder Djibril Soumare and defender Japhet Tanganga at Charlton Athletic and two cheap bookings for striker Patrick Bamford which slightly marred an impressive home win over promotion-chasing Ipswich Town.
Asked about his side’s red card situation ahead of the visit of Frank Lampard’s men, and if five this year was a “problem”, Wilder replied: “Pat Bamford, a bit disappointed with that one. Joe Rothwell, over-exuberance and a tackle that the fourth official thought [the red card] was a bit harsh.
“Two at Charlton, we challenged both of those, and Kalvin as well. So for me we're a committed side, we tackle, we compete. We're not trying to top people. A mistimed tackle by Djibby, the header Japh should never have been sent off in a million years.
Chris Wilder answers Sheffield United disciplinary “problem” question as Blades walk fine line ahead of Coventry City clash
“Pat’s first booking, second booking and obviously Kalvin's on Saturday that we've talked about. I think quite easily that could have been one or two, but it is five. We have to talk and remind them that it makes it difficult for us and it lessens our opportunity of winning games of football, but I don't want to take the fire out of my team.
“I don't want to take the commitment out of my team. We've got to go and win headers and tackles. Coventry have done that; they did it last week on Monday against Middlesbrough and got into them and found a way to win.
“I think it's going to be a full-blooded affair. We've just got to make sure that we don't step over that line.”
Dutch international Jairo Riedewald has been missing since just before that Charlton game with a hamstring issue but is expected to be involved in the squad against the Sky Blues. “He's trained.
“We decided that the best situation for him over the last three or four days would be to train fully. Quite easily he could have been a sub against Sheffield Wednesday but we thought: ‘Let's prepare him for the Coventry game.’ So he's ready to go.”