Former England defender delivers brutal response when asked about Sheffield United's Premier League survival hopes

Former England defender Danny Mills reckons Sheffield United should have started planning for the Championship “about three weeks ago”.
Sheffield United suffered a 3-0 defeat at West Ham United last night. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Sheffield United suffered a 3-0 defeat at West Ham United last night. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Sheffield United suffered a 3-0 defeat at West Ham United last night. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Blades’ Premier League survival hopes took a hit last night following the 3-0 defeat at in-form West Ham United.

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With time running out, Mills delivered a brutal response when asked if or when Wilder should start planning for life in the Championship

Mills told Sky Sports’ Football Show: “About three weeks ago, I would suggest.

"It’s always going to be nigh-on impossible if you look at their position. Even before Christmas, the run of form they had to go on to get themselves out of the situation would be more than miraclous.

"It just hasn’t happened for them this season. Last season was absolutely exceptional, maybe adrenaline, partly down to fans being around, all the things that happened to them were just fantastic.

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"That hasn’t happened (this season), they can’t score goals. They didn’t really score goals last season, that was always their problem – I think the top scorer had six.

"They’ve tried to address that situation by bringing in strikers and they haven’t scored enough goals and that’s their problem.

"If you rely on being very, very tight at the back, not conceding too many but because then you don’t score too many and winning games by the odd goal – you’re on a knife-edge all the time.

"It doesn’t take a lot for that to go wrong and that’s what happened this season.”

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Wilder and co have undoubtedly missed their 12th man at Bramall Lane, but Mills says that is no excuse for their struggles.

He added: "I know people keep saying they haven’t got the fans in, but no one has fans in. Newcastle, Liverpool don’t have fans in – it's the same for everybody, so I don’t think you can use that as an excuse.

"Players shouldn’t be overly affected by that. Every now and then yes, maybe if there are 80 minutes to go and the crowd get behind you but across the course of the season, that really should be a big effect from a player’s point of view.