Chris Wilder responds to Sheffield United celebration criticism v Sheffield Wednesday after pre-match needle reveal
Chris Wilder responds to Sheffield United celebration criticism v Sheffield Wednesday after pre-match needle reveal
Chris Wilder has responded to criticism of Sheffield United’s celebrations following victory in Sunday’s Steel City derby against Wednesday at Hillsborough - revealing a suggestion from the Owls camp in the minutes before the clash that his side may not be up for it. The Blades eventually ran out 3-0 winners, and could have won by a greater margin.
Wilder and his players revelled in the moment after the final whistle, after giving their supporters in the upper tier something big to cheer about after an underwhelming season so far. But it didn’t escape attention elsewhere, with criticism from some quarters that United had somewhat overdone things.
Josh Windass, the former Wednesday player not averse to a bit of winding-up himself, had his say live on commentary as the Blades savoured the moment while a number of other clubs’ supporters also had their say.
Addressing the mini-furore this afternoon ahead of tomorrow’s Bramall Lane clash with Portsmouth, Wilder said: “What can you do? How can you win? What do you want us to do? Just walk straight back down the tunnel? It’s just absolute nonsense in my opinion. So, I don't even have to answer. We don't have to justify anything.
“We won a local derby. We've won a few recently. We want to keep that rolling. And there are some layers to it as well. There were a couple of bits and pieces that you find out afterwards as well. A few words said in the tunnel before that I didn't realise had been said, and a few words said afterwards as well.
Chris Wilder responds to Sheffield United celebration criticism v Sheffield Wednesday after pre-match needle reveal
“I think the shout was that we weren't going to be up for it. I'm not sure how anybody could come to that conclusion - especially if I'm the manager of the football club - that we wouldn't be up for it.
“And I don't think any Sheffield United supporter or follower would ever think that we would never be up for one of those games. The key is that we've got to be up for every one of them, every game that we play. And that's the important message that I've stuck on the boys' toes yesterday and today, that that's what I expect.
“I've never really felt that we've turned it in or we've not put the necessary commitment or desire into the games. All the games that we've not got results in so far this season, there's been a reason. And usually it's been self-inflicted.
“But I felt that the result was going to be decided in our changing room. We decided the outcome of this game with our approach, dealing with the occasion, dealing with the start. Dealing with their best player, Barry Bannan, dealing with their period that they might have, and making sure that we're clinical in both boxes.
“And I think the general opinion is maybe that we should have put them to bed a little bit earlier, and it should have been a little bit more. But, like I said, I'm never, ever going to be greedy on a Sheffield derby win.”