Michael Cooper question marks addressed with Sheffield United man under spotlight following Leicester City error
Michael Cooper question marks addressed with Sheffield United man under spotlight following Leicester City error
Chris Wilder has addressed question marks from Sheffield United supporters over the recent form of Michael Cooper, with the goalkeeper under the spotlight following a mistake in last weekend’s win at Leicester City. The 26-year-old was a measure of consistency last term after arriving from Plymouth Argyle.
He seemed to struggle a little in the early part of the season from the lack of the same defensive protection in front of him, although he remains well in credit at Bramall Lane in terms of good performances and bad.
But there were concerns raised after a mistake at the King Power Stadium allowed Stephy Mavididi to offer the Foxes a potential route back into the game, before Cooper was caught out by a cruel swerve of the ball for Jordan Jones’ strike which set up a tense finish before the Blades closed out a 3-2 win.
Those two moments spoiled what could have otherwise have been a pefect week for the Blades, which saw them win three games in the space of six days and score three times in each. A third successive clean sheet, after Cooper shut out city rivals Wednesday and Portsmouth, would have been the icing on the cake.
Addressing Cooper’s form ahead of tomorrow’s Bramall Lane return against Stoke City, Wilder said: “I think he hasn't had a lot to do though. I think it's been going on for quite a while, this, in terms of our resurgence. And it's difficult for supporters to see this.
“I could put a slide up regarding our form since Charlton and our form since Watford. And you'll be blown away with it. Third, fourth, fifth, fourth, third on this and that. Ultimately, the game is decided in both boxes. What we have done is been more clinical in the opposition box.
Michael Cooper question marks addressed with Sheffield United man under spotlight following Leicester City error
“It’s always highlighted when a goalkeeper makes a mistake. And the first one, he's just misjudged the cross. He's taken a decision to let it go. And knew straightaway, and he knows, that he should have dealt with the situation.
“He hadn't had anything to do. He didn't have anything to do in the second half on Saturday afternoon. One of the situations was thatwe sort of gifted them an early goal. And an easy one. But we did what we had to do. Which was get a win.
“The second one is debatable, whether it's him. It's a great strike, great finish from the guy. It's a difficult one for goalkeepers. I always think he's got set for it to go somewhere. And you can see from right behind it, it's swerved all over the place.
“But the first one is an individual error. He hasn't had anything to do for quite a while. He didn't have anything to do at Sheffield Wednesday. He didn't have anything to do against Portsmouth. I can't remember him having a lot to do in the other games as well.
“It’s the trials and tribulations of being a goalkeeper, I suppose, is what I'm saying. You get exposed and you get highlighted. If you make that mistake. He didn't make a mistake last season, he's made a couple this year.
“So he has to deal with that exposure and spotlight. By everybody. But he's okay, he's a calm character. He's our number one and we're delighted that he's with us and moving forward with us.”