Ghost goal frustration and an update on striker chase - What John Egan and Chris Wilder said at Sheffield United's press conference ahead of Aston Villa clash

Here’s the best of what they said, via the medium of Zoom…

Chris Wilder

Start to the season

We want to win games of football. We know how hard it is and it was just the manner and the speed that took everyone aback against Wolves but I thought the reaction was really good. There were major changes on Thursday and usually in the past, when we have changed the team drastically, we usually come away with more negatives than positives but I thought the other night, the new boys all gave me something to think about. And that's what I want.

Expecting a striker before Monday?

I think it'll be a struggle. But we're working away. Anything can drop pretty quickly and we're ready to do business, I doubt it'll happen before Monday, with the medical and bits of pieces needed, so it'll be doubtful to have anyone in the building for Villa Park.

'Ghost goal'

A couple of other clubs might have had more of a moan towards the end of the season but there was always a chance it would affect someone because of how tight it was down there. We were disappointed on the night and I've said far too much about it, I'm sure that fault or decision won't happen again. I think it was the first time in about 9,000 games so we'd have to wait a long time for that to happen again. Villa had a great end of season and will look to use that momentum into the new campaign.

Satisfied with the explanation of Hawkeye failure?

Not at all. There was a statement on the night and nothing really from anyone else. There was a bit of contact from the Premier League and we had to move quickly on from it. I was asked the question, as I'd expect to be asked, but I'm not sat here thinking it was all explained and everything's OK. I'm 100% convinced that if we were a more powerful club in the division, more of a name, then a lot more would have been made of it. We have to move on. It'll probably come out as me moaning but I'm not, I'm just giving you my honest feelings about the night.

Villa

I still have sleepless nights over a mad five minutes in the Championship. Going 3-0 up with 10 minutes to go and taking the skipper off after scoring a hat-trick! That's what can happen, but they've always been decent games. We've had a decent record against them. It's a fabulous club and when you speak about the top clubs and sizeable clubs of stature, you put Villa and Newcastle and Leeds right up there.

Behind closed doors games

It's still odd, we changed in a marquee at Burnley. The players want to work and play football but when you've earned the right to go to Newcastle and Villa and Manchester United, to get off the M60 and go into a Portakabin and walk out at Old Trafford when no-one's there... no-one enjoys it. They're getting on with it, and the return of fans can't come quick enough.

Gareth Bale

It's an incredibly strong league. It's undoubtedly, in my opinion, an incredible league full of superstars and different challenges. That'll be a huge challenge against Spurs, not only against a manager I have a huge amount of respect for but also Kane, Son... stick Bale into that and it's another challenge we have to overcome. People talked about it being a slow window but it looks like it's still going and it shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

More rotation?

I've already seen a step-up in quality with the new players in training and there's no shoo-ins in our team. We spoke about the opportunity at Burnley and told the lads not to waste it, and they didn't. The flow on Thursday was impressive, it's been a broken pre-season and there's always a decent standard in training. It's competitive and we have to show those signs. There has been a lift, because of the quality we've brought in.

Progress helped land targets

We wouldn't have got near Sander Berge if we hadn't started the season like we did. The league gets coverage worldwide and people see. The analysis we do of players is in a way done by players and agents coming into our club. So there's no downside or negative with how we've played and what we've done. I like to think the players enjoy coming to work, I don't seem to have many people desperate to get out, so I think that goes a long way.

John Egan

Not looking too far ahead, and happy at the Lane

The way we look at it is looking at the next game and that's always been the case since I came here, we're looking forward to the Villa game. It's a chance to go there and get a result, and that's all we're looking at. It's a great place to play football, it's a great club and the fans are great. Working under this manager is fantastic and I was over the moon to get things done in the summer.

‘Second season syndrome’ talk..

All I hear about is second season syndrome but as a player it doesn't even cross my mind and I'm sure that's the same for all the players. You can't look too far ahead in the Premier League or behind you. Every time is brilliant and it's the best league in the world for a reason. I haven't done my research but all I can do is affect what's happening next, which is Villa for us. It's good to judge teams at the end of a season. People said we were going straight back down last season but finished ninth. That's brilliant but it's done now. We are only focusing on Monday. We never said we want to finish there or get top 10 last season, it was just let's win the next game and see where it takes us. If you start setting targets or looking too far ahead, it can come back to bite you.

New players upping the standards

Yeah the quality in the squad has gone up a notch every window I've been in the squad, the manager added good player again in the summer and it can only bode well for everyone. It drives everyone to get better and that's what you want, to keep them improving. And that's something the manager is big on.

Last time out at Villa – the ‘ghost goal’

I was in the back of the net celebrating! The first goal in Premier League games is key and it was frustrating because we had a goal chalked off. But it's not about revenge or anything, it's just one of those things that happens in football. We've had some good battles with them over the years and it's a good fixture. Villa Park is one of the best grounds in England with fans in so it's strange there without fans, but we're going there on Monday hoping to get a result.

Next up is Chris Wilder… stay tuned for his updates!