"Miles off it" - Chris Wilder responds to Sheffield United fan boos v Blackburn Rovers as key men's absence explained
Chris Wilder admitted Sheffield United were “miles off it” in a poor first half as Blackburn Rovers raced into a 3-0 lead, saying the crowd’s reaction at Bramall Lane was fully justified.
Chris Wilder, the Sheffield United manager, admitted he understood boos from the crowd during their defeat to Blackburn Rovers this evening, admitting: “We were miles off it first half.” The Blades were jeered from the pitch after going 3-0 down at the break.
They improved in the second half but it was difficult for them to be much worse, against a side whose victory secured their place in the Championship for next season. Harrison Burrows pulled one back, but the damage had long been done.
It could have all been very different for United had Tom Cannon converted a glorious chance inside the first 30 seconds. But instead he scuffed his shot wide, Blackburn repeatedly hit United on the counter and defending Wilder later described as “terrible” cost them dear once again.
“We were just miles off of it first half,” he admitted. “No energy, no spark. It's not a straightforward game. Their results have said that. They're a counter-attacking team and they sit in and make it difficult. But so finding that first goal is important.
"Miles off it" - Chris Wilder responds to Sheffield United fan boos v Blackburn Rovers as key men's absence explained
“We should have found it after 35 seconds, but we didn't. And then you have to be sharper, quicker. They sit in and they make it difficult for you. And we just didn't have the nous to break it down. The first goal is important. It's really disappointing.
“When they sit in, you've got to go wide and we just wanted to force it through the middle all the time. They're sat and they're waiting to counter. And if we force it through and turn the ball over, which we did so many times, then there's an opportunity for them to go and hurt you.
“And especially if you're defending the manner that we defended, which was terrible. Not stopping crosses, not getting out to wingers, not getting out to full-backs. Not defending the box, not being alive to second balls and whatever. First goal, second goal and third goal are all really poor goals to give away.
“So I understand the crowd's reaction at half-time. It was fully justified.”
Wilder responded to the first-half showing by making four changes at the break, with Oliver Arblaster and Sydie Peck introduced at the break at the expense of Jairo Riedewald and Joe Rothwell.
Tahith Chong was also hooked at the break after a largely anonymous display, with Femi Seriki introduced later on and Andre Brooks remaining on the bench. “Sydie would have played. Sydie, Brooksy and Femi would have played, but they were down with illness.
“They'd not trained for a couple of days, so they were on the bench. So Sydie would have played to give us a bit more energy. I was always a little bit cautious about sticking Blaster in as well, which I've talked about.
“That was the bright spot, them two coming on in the second half, but the two [starting] midfield players lacked energy and couldn't get round the pitch. We just looked short on energy and reaction.
“The reaction to turnovers to get back in, reaction to get out to stop crosses. Just the basic fundamental aspects of defending. We knew that they were going to cross it. They cross it possibly more than any of the teams in the division.
“Then you've got to defend inside the goal. We defended appallingly and from 3-0 down, it's a long way back.”