Fired-up Chris Wilder lays down latest challenge to Sheffield United players after "own it" admission
Sheffield United’s season may be nearing a welcome end, but there is still a clear message coming from inside Bramall Lane about how it should finish.
He has been consistent in his message that Sheffield United’s season is not officially over until the final kick of the ball at Derby County on the final day, and Chris Wilder has laid down his latest challenge to his players ahead of Wednesday night’s penultimate home game of the season against Blackburn Rovers. The Blades are looking for a third win on the bounce to finish the season on a high.
Ultimately though it has been one of disappointment and frustration on the whole, even if Wilder and his coaching staff did manage to steer United away from the relegation zone after returning in September.
Even a run of four successive victories in November and early December couldn’t lift United higher than 12th in the Championship, such was the handicap they gave themselves earlier in the season by losing all six of their games under former boss Ruben Selles.
Fired-up Chris Wilder lays down latest challenge to Sheffield United players after "own it" admission
Hopes of mounting a play-off charge eventually fell short and attention has now turned towards a huge off-season as United look to ensure they aren’t left in this position again going forward.
But it isn’t all doom and gloom, with back-to-back wins over Hull City and Watford restoring a bit of belief and, it must be said, quietening a few growing dissenting voices amongst the United fanbase.
After Blackburn, United welcome former boss Paul Heckingbottom back to Bramall Lane at the weekend when they face Preston North End before a final-day trip to play-off chasing Derby County, with United selling out their allocation in the away end at Pride Park.
“We don’t just want our season to peter out,” Wilder said. “One of the targets for us is the highest league position of the season, into 12th. We’ve got two home games, which I'm sure we want to go and put in really positive performances and get positive results in, and an away day at a local club.
“So there’s still plenty of football to be played and two wins on the bounce. But the next objective now is to go and win on Wednesday night. Ultimately, this season will finish where it will and we have to accept that and own that.
“But still we want something out of it. There’ll be a cracking atmosphere at Derby, if they keep going in the manner they are. And I really want to make sure that we hit the ground running [next season] off the back of a respectable league position.
“We’re up to 12th now and we've got a chance to climb as well. That gap isn't big and I don't want to go back. I don't want to go backwards. I want to reel in the teams above us. We have an opportunity of doing that on Wednesday night, and we have to make sure we take that.”