Sheffield United are told one thing they simply mustn't do between now and the end of the season

United prepared for the game against Southampton at the bottom of the table and 12 points between 17th placed Newcastle with only 11 matches of their season remaining, despite beating Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

With Steve Bruce’s side also enjoying a game in hand on his team, United manager Chris Wilder accepts his squad requires a minor miracle to avoid relegation.

But, speaking ahead of this afternoon’s contest at Bramall Lane, the 53-year-old said: “I don’t want to finish on a low. I want us to go into every game giving everything to win.

“If I see anything else, it will hurt and disappoint me. Because that will hurt and disappoint the supporters too. If there’s one thing that stings with me, it’s when people say players are turning it in and that’s not something we’ve ever done here.”

After finishing ninth in the table last term, United have seen their lack of depth exposed by a spate of injuries in recent months, while Wilder also concedes they have struggled to compete with world class opponents behind closed doors since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Whatever we might lack in certain aspects, whatever might happen that is out of our control, the fact is these lads have tried and tried and tried to give it everything,” he said. “If there is that consistency in attitude, then it’s acceptable because that gives you a platform to work from.”

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