Chris Wilder pinpoints what Sheffield United have been missing after welcome Wrexham win closes play-offs gap
Ben Brereton Diaz's first goal of the season secured a deserved win over Wrexham as Sheffield United moved to within a point of the top eight, with Chris Wilder delighted to see his side put together a complete performance.
Chris Wilder hopes his Sheffield United side can build on their first full-game performance of the season as they moved closer to the play-off places by beating Wrexham at Bramall Lane. The Blades are a point off the top eight ahead of the weekend fixtures.
And their third victory in their last five games was well deserved too, with Ben Brereton Diaz’s welcome first goal of the season the difference between the two sides on the scoresheet.
But in reality United were incredibly comfortable and set the tone in the first half hour, a stark difference to their ponderous start in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Derby County.
And Unitedites responded, with Romelle Donovan impressing after being restored to the starting line-up and Jordan Ayew also earning a standing ovation from supporters after putting in a real shift up top and having a hand in Brereton Diaz’s close-range winner.
“We needed to put a 95, 96 minute performance together because we haven't all season, really,” Wilder admitted afterwards. “We've been good in parts and not so good in parts and finding that consistency is key for us.
“I said in the press on Thursday, there's possibly Middlesbrough and a couple of others that can be really delighted in where they are at the moment. And there's a lot of clubs that are finding a way.
“We're all looking for that. We all want to put that 95, 96 minute performance together but you have to respect the opposition, their challenges, our challenges. We certainly needed to start the game better than what we did on Saturday. We expected the game to come to us.
“I can tell you 100% that wasn't the message. I always think it's special on a night game here when it's a big game, and it was up to us to take that initiative. We certainly did that and gave ourselves a platform to go and win the game.”
United should have had a penalty, when Harrison Burrows was wiped out by Dom Hyam from behind but referee David Webb waved away the appeals, and Wrexham’s only shot on target was a tame header in injury time that Michael Cooper gobbled up with ease.
“Everybody turned up and when we got deep into the game, the amount of effort and intensity they put into the game was good,” Wilder added. “We just ran out of gas a little bit and made the substitutions that we did.
“But we understood as well that Phil and his team have achieved a lot over a number of years. It hasn't been given to them and they've had to work hard. They've got a certain characteristic about the team.
“And there was always going to be a reaction when centre forward comes on at half time. Even though I'm after a 95, 96 minute performance, you've got to understand that they might stick it on us a little bit.
“And we have to deal with that and enjoy dealing with it, which I thought we did. I’m a touch critical that we didn't look after the ball well enough in certain periods in the second half.
“And a bit disappointed that there was a penalty there that, for me, should have been given that wasn't. But a clean sheet at home and a 1-0 victory. Another win to add to the Lincoln win and to add to the Bristol City win. Hopefully we can kick on from tonight's performance.”