Mark Robins outlines "marked difference" in Sheffield United fortunes after honest Stoke City "bullied" admission
Mark Robins outlines "marked difference" in Sheffield United fortunes after honest Stoke City "bullied" admission
A deflated Mark Robins admitted that Sheffield United’s recent resurgence comes as no surprise after a “marked difference” since Chris Wilder’s return to the club. The Blades ran out 4-0 winners at Bramall Lane this afternoon to seal their fourth successive victory.
That run has sparked renewed belief that United can still salvage something from the wreckage of their disastrous early-season form under Ruben Selles, with two more chance to claw back some points this week when they face Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion.
United were in complete control from start to finish against Stoke, who were amongst the early pacesetters but have tailed off a tad with four defeats in their last five games. And a visibly frustrated Robins said afterwards: “It was nothing like any game that we've seen this season.
“The disappointment was really from the first set play that they had, and then from that point we were bullied. So it was disappointing all afternoon from that point of view. Because I thought up until that point we looked a threat.
“We looked like we were going to be a threat and inexplicably we just lost composure on the ball. We didn't compete well enough against a team that last season were in the play-off final. I've said it before with the change that they had, when Chris left and then came back.
“It’s been a marked difference because he's been here before. He's taken them to the Premier League and the play-off final. So for him to leave and with the style that they've had, it was always going to change around with him coming back in.
“So that was a disappointment but we didn't deal with them in any way; so in possession, out of possession. The good thing is we have another game coming up. It's another one of those games where I want to see a reaction.
“Because if you can't compete against the likes of Sheffield United then you can't be in that top part of the table. Even this season. It's a mental season. Like I said before, it will work itself out but I'm really interested to see how we can react to that.”