How Sheffield United banished last season's Achilles heel as impressive turnaround fuels momentum shift
Chris Wilder says Sheffield United must learn to deal with individual mistakes after revealing how defensive errors cost his side points last season, with the Blades boss delighted by the recent improvement in their work out of possession.
Chris Wilder is encouraged by Sheffield United’s defensive improvement of late, with the Blades turning around a poor record last season into one of the best in the division this time around. Only second-placed Swansea City have kept more clean sheets than United’s five so far.
That is a marked step forward from last season’s struggle, when United conceded so many avoidable goals and so often dropped points from winning positions as they finished 13th in the Championship.
But they have been noticeably stronger this time around, with Michael Cooper looking back to his best in goal and Liam Kitching an impressive addition to partner Japhet Tanganga.
That partnership will be broken up at Preston North End tomorrow when Kitching serves a one-match ban after picking up five bookings, but United will look to build on Friday’s win over Wrexham against the division’s bottom side.
Asked about his side’s defensive solidarity, Wilder said: “Well, you always need that. It was something that we reviewed off last season. How many points we dropped from winning positions, what we needed to do, what we needed to lift.
“It's another team that's been put together pretty quickly as well. We're 12 or 13 games in and I think the key is that you give yourself an opportunity to win games of football.
“We're a front-footed team. We don't go into games sitting off teams and playing on the counter-attack. It's not my way. It's not the way I want us to play and to feel and to look. But you have to make sure that individually you defend well. You don't make any mistakes.
“If there's one mistake, then somebody clears that out. I think that happened too many times last year. One mistake went to two, three and four.
“Having defenders that want to defend, having a team that wants to defend is really important, individually, as a unit and overall. And I'm delighted for Michael as well, because he's made some big saves this season.
“But it's important for him as well that we get that stability and we get both parts of the game right. Both sides of the game are really important.”
Kitching went into the Wrexham game on four bookings and picked up his fifth after being adjudged to have fouled Sam Smith. He will be a big miss for the Blades, with Mark McGuinness or Jamal Baptiste potential replacements.
Wilder could also play Sam McCallum at left centre-half if he wants to retain the left-right foot balance that has served United so well in recent weeks, with their 10 points from their last five games lifting them within touching distance of the top eight.
“Liam’s made a great difference to us, I think,” Wilder added. “He's one that we're going to miss on Tuesday night. I’m delighted with his performance, his attitude. It looked as if we had a little bit of a settled back four at the moment as well.
“Michael making saves; we talked about that last season. Physically, where he was at, him having his operation, having a great pre-season and making saves. I think you look at all the top sides that we've had here. The goalkeeper is a really important member of the team. Making those saves.
“We talked about one mistake leading to two, three or four. Who's going to get somebody out of trouble after they make a mistake? There's obviously going to be mistakes by players. It's just the nature of the game.
“And it’s how we cope with that. There's nothing really tactical in terms of the way we've changed. It's just about dealing with when you're in possession and you're in control of the game.
“What does it look like? I think always you're at your weakest when you're in possession and with players switching on. So concentration levels have been good. It just gives you an opportunity to go and win games.
“Of course you always want to go and win two, three and four. I get that. But we don't change the way we play. We don't change our approach to games. We always go out and win games. Regardless if it's home or away.
“I've got to say, [United’s record] got flagged up at the weekend. It's nothing really I've been concentrating on or really doubled down on, the stats and numbers about clean sheets.
“Then you go: ‘Yeah, I get that.’ But it's about playing well. Pretty simplistic.
Trying to play well and try and win games of football and play good football. I believe we're a decent footballing side. And I think that teams in our division will look at us in that way.”