Chris Wilder's reaction to Sheffield United win over Rotherham United with pre-season admission
Sheffield United beat neighbours Rotherham United 2-0 in their latest pre-season friendly
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder reflected on his side’s 2-0 pre-season victory over Rotherham United at the New York Stadium, which highlighted “stuff to work on” for the Blades.
Goals in eother half from Tahith Chong and Callum O’Hare sealed the win for United.
Whilst the scoreline reflects a comfortable victory for the Blades against their South Yorkshire counterparts, a handful of chances went begging in the first half which would have wrapped up the match early on.
Experienced defender Matt Doherty made his Sheffield United debut, replacing Femi Seriki in the 73rd minute, and showed glimpses of his Premier League quality, particularly in his decision-making.
Wilder emphasised that he wants his side to have a “winning mentality,” even when it comes to the Blades’ pre-season schedule. He said: “I am bothered about the result, because that's that winning mentality that we're all after.
“You are bothered about taking the game seriously; you are bothered about not being arrogant in your approach as a manager, as a team, as players and as a club, and respecting the opposition.”
After United’s recent 0-0 draw with Chesterfield, assistant manager Michael Collins also stressed that the Blades are out to win games in their pre-season schedule, explaining: “We do want it [pre-season] to be like the league feel with regards to we want to win games of football.
“We don't want to be one of those teams that says for the first two, three, four games, it's about minutes in the legs. It is, everybody knows that, but it's also about winning.”
The management staff’s mentality has proved fruitful for the Blades this pre-season, as United have won four out of five pre-season games and drew the other, which leaves their side in good stead to maintain this momentum into the competitive fixtures, which are edging ever closer.
Wilder also named being clinical in front of goal as his side’s “Achilles' heel,” explaining: “We should be 2-0 up after five minutes. Tom [Cannon] should score, and Cal [O’Hare] should score.
“So, stuff to work on there, work on in terms of our play. The build is okay but threatening more in behind. Gus [Hamer] made a couple of brilliant passes, great runs and more runs off the top line, which we did more in the second half.”