Chris Wilder shares main Sheffield United criticism from Southampton defeat after “dominated” verdict
Chris Wilder shares main Sheffield United criticism from Southampton defeat after “dominated” verdict
Chris Wilder was left bemoaning a familiar story from his Sheffield United side after they failed to take advantage of their chances in defeat at Southampton this evening. The game was settled by a deflected effort early in the first half from Leo Scienza.
The Saints had chances to extend their lead but United could also have got back into it, with a golden chance for sub Patrick Bamford late on saved by home goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. That profligacy has been a theme of United’s season and after haunting them on Saturday at Charlton Athletic, that lack of cutting egde was on show here again tonight.
“We've got to take something from that game,” said the United manager afterwards. “One hundred per cent, especially second half. In the first half we were a little bit leggy and it took us time to get going. They started brighter than us and a deflected goal gets them in front.
“We were a lot better second half but we've got to get something from the game, even in the last five or 10 minutes. We could possibly win that 3-1 with the chances that we had, but we've got to convert those situations that we had.
Chris Wilder shares main Sheffield United criticism from Southampton defeat after “dominated” verdict
“Second half we passed it better, we didn't turn it over as much as we did first half and didn’t allow them to dominate, which they did first half. Instead we dominated them. It was a game of two halves, but they found their goal from a deflection. We didn't find our goal through us not being clinical enough in the last bit, even right at the end.”
After playing more than half of Saturday’s defeat at Charlton with nine men, United were again forced to make physical changes with two centre-halves who have not played much football lately, Mark McGuinness and Ben Mee, and two midfielders who have played even less.
A rare senior partnership of youth products Sydie Peck and Oliver Arblaster could not establish much control in the middle of the park but both are on their way back from injury absences and were absolved of criticism by boss Wilder afterwards.
“There are a lot of players running on empty, a lot of players that wouldn't start ordinarily,” Wilder added. “Let's be right about it. Sydie and Blaster wouldn’t start normally, so I'm not going to be critical of them.
“They're putting their hands up to play. Tom Davies can only do a certain amount of minutes. Obviously we lost two centre-halves [Japhet Tanganga and Tyler Bindon], who have been big for us.
“We're rushing Ben back, so you see physically it took its toll out there. But yet again, as they did on Saturday, they went right to the end. As much as the defeat and the result and the scoreline pains me, we've got a team that's having a right go. But I want us to have a right go and get something from the game, and I certainly think we deserved something from the game.”