"Fearless" Sheffield United rookie grabs big Sheffield Wednesday chance to give Chris Wilder food for thought

When Femi Seriki emerged from the Bramall Lane tunnel to take Alfie Gilchrist’s place at right-back during the biggest game of Sheffield United’s season so far, a few Unitedites on the terraces would have been forgiven for scratching their heads. The Blades were locked at 0-0 with their fiercest rivals Wednesday, with more than 31,000 fans packed into Bramall Lane creating a pressure-cooker atmosphere.

A big stage, then, for a 22-year-old defender with one career start in United colours under his belt and underwhelming loans at sister club Beerschot, Boston United and Rotherham United in recent seasons. But boy did Seriki take the chance, pushing Wednesday back from his first involvement in the game and delivering a real mature performance from right-back as the Blades sealed Steel City bragging rights once more.

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It wasn’t just going forward that he impressed, either, with a superb challenge preventing Anthony Musaba from testing Michael Cooper in the Blades goal as the Owls looked to get back into the game. Chelsea loanee Gilchrist has been United’s first-choice right-back all season but Seriki’s display will have only cemented him further in the mind of boss Chris Wilder, especially giving the stark differences between the two.

Gilchrist began his career as a centre-half and is a more defensively-minded right-back - albeit one getting more to grips with the attacking side of the game - while Seriki is a converted winger who loves to get forward and use his pace, with defensive ability too. The derby display could be a watershed moment for the young man, who could barely get a game for Rotherham last year as they were relegated to League One but is now part of a squad chasing Premier League football.

“Femi’s just positive," boss Wilder said. "I don't think he knows what he's doing at times, let alone me or the coaches! But he's on the front foot, he drives the game forward and he was exactly what we needed in the second half. He was fearless and it was great from him. He's a popular boy ... they all are. The way they all get on together, it's fabulous to see.”

The impact of Seriki fully justified Wilder’s tactical tweak. It’s not that a manager of his experience and standing needs vindication but just a few weeks ago, his selection decisions in defeat at Leeds were called into question by some supporters. That is the life of a football manager, who lives and dies by such calls that sometimes come off and sometimes don’t. But Wilder has certainly got more right than wrong this season and it’s important to highlight the former as well as the latter.

“It’s no criticism of Alfie,” the Blades boss added, “but Femi gave us the drive from right-back that I thought we needed. Our defensive record is brilliant but that was the side where we needed to get out. We recognised it and Femi produced that drive, taking their team backwards in terms of his attitude towards the game."