Sheffield United manager attacks "lazy" punditry

A pivotal figure in the 3-5-2 formation which helped them finish ninth in the Premier League last season, United have struggled for results since losing O’Connell to a knee injury earlier this term.

Despite experimenting with Jack Robinson, Enda Stevens, Ethan Ampadu and Kean Bryan on the left hand side of his three man defence in recent weeks, Wilder has made experienced cover for O’Connell his top priority during next month’s transfer window, as talks between coaching staff and Bramall Lane’s board of directors about which targets to pursue continue ahead of Thursday’s home game against Manchester United.

Beaten 3-0 by Southampton over the weekend, United will enter the meeting with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side at the bottom of the table after taking only a point from their first 12 matches of the 2020/21 schedule.

“If I thought the system was the issue then I’d change it,” Wilder said. “Of course I would, I’d do it in an instant because I’ve done it before and if it’s necessary, then I’ll do it again.

“But I don’t think it is, and so that’s why we won’t be doing it. I don’t think it’s necessary and I don’t think it would be the right thing to do.”

“I hear all of this stuff about ‘Oh, they’ve been found out, people know how to play against them now, they’ve worked them out and all that,” Wilder continued, referring to his policy of combining attacking wing-backs with overlapping centre-halves. “What I never hear is anyone explain why that is. They won’t and they can’t because they haven’t really done their homework. I think it’s lazy, really, because there’s never an explanation from them.”

"If it’s right, and people do their homework, then they always are able to give explanations.”

Phil Jagielka deputised for O’Connell at St Mary’s, where goals from Che Adams, Stuart Armstrong and substitute Nathan Redmond propelled Southampton to victory.