Sheffield United boss predicts what will happen when his team gets its first Premier League win of the season

Chris Wilder has admitted a weight will be lifted from his players’ shoulders when they record their first win of the new Premier League season, after confessing the pressure which has built upon around the squad following its disappointing results of late is affecting performance levels.
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Despite finishing ninth last term, United are preparing for next weekend’s visit of West Ham at the foot of the nascent table having taken only a point from their opening eight games since returning to action in September.

Wilder remains convinced his team possesses the quality required to begin climbing the rankings shortly, reminding how both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola acknowledged United caused “problems” during their recent games against Liverpool and Manchester City.

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“Everybody in professional sport knows there’s lots of different aspects to it,” he said. “There’s lots of different parts, physical, mental, technical and so on.

“To do things right, to get things right in Premier League football, you have to get all of them spot on.

“Very often, although this might sound strange, that happens when you relax a little bit more.”

Speaking at the beginning of the international break, Wilder explained why it was inevitable “some anxiety” had crept into United’s play after suffering a run of three successive defeats, despite the quality of the opposition.

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Using Oli McBurnie’s goal during a 3-0 win over Chelsea in July to underline why - Frank Lampard’s side avenged that result at Stamford Bridge last weekend - he said: “That was a fabulous goal and it came with playing with a little more freedom, a bit quicker and seeing the pictures in your mind faster too.”

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: David Klein/SportimageSheffield United manager Chris Wilder: David Klein/Sportimage
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: David Klein/Sportimage

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