'Incredible' - Oxford boss gives verdict on Chris Wilder ahead of Sheffield United clash
Oxford United will be hoping to secure a surprise away win when they face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Tuesday night.
Oxford United head coach Matt Bloomfield has admitted Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is a manager he takes inspiration from ahead of tonight’s Bramall Lane showdown between the two clubs.
After their January clash was postponed after a section of Bramall Lane’s undersoil heating system failed, leaving an area of the pitch unplayable, the two sides will go head-to-head this evening, equally sharing ambitions of getting back to winning ways.
United, who beat the U’s 1-0 at the Kassam Stadium back in September to clinch their first win of the season, earned a point on the road on Saturday, drawing 1-1 with Millwall at The Den, while Oxford suffered their first defeat of the Bloomfield era, being beaten 2-0 by Birmingham City on home soil.
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Bloomfield was appointed as Gary Rowett’s successor at the Kassam Stadium last month and is tasked with trying to preserve their Championship status. They are currently 23rd in the standings, five points from safety.
Just like Wilder, Bloomfield has worked his way up through the ranks as a manager, landing his first Championship job as recently as January last year, swapping Wycombe Wanderers for Luton Town. However, he was unable to keep the Hatters in the Championship, and he was sacked by the Hatters in October.
Attempting to go one better with Oxford, Bloomfield has waxed lyrical about Wilder ahead of going head-to-head with him at Bramall Lane, admitting he is a manager he really admires.
Bloomfield raves about Wilder
Bloomfield said of Wilder’s management career: “Incredible. What an incredibly experienced manager, whose been there, seen it, done it and had great success.
"[He is] someone who, in my position, in my career, I look up to. I've been lucky enough to meet him a few times over the years on courses. I met him once at a meeting and I sat and had lunch and playing against his team last year.
"I think he's fantastic as a guy, and as a manager I think he's just fantastic.”
A novice in management compared to Wilder, Bloomfield, who only landed his first permanent manager’s role in September 2022, has a great amount of respect for the Blades boss.
Asked if young and upcoming managers can look to Wilder for inspiration, the Oxford boss added: "Success leaves clues, right? He's been incredibly successful and anyone who's successful in this industry I look upon with a great deal of respect and admiration because it's not an easy role.
"So if he's done it for the length of time that he has, the way he conducts himself, the way he carries himself and the success he's had, I have to admire that, and I certainly do."
Meanwhile, Oxford’s trip to Bramall Lane will come too soon for deadline day signings Ruben Roosken and Aidomo Emakhu. They joined the club on Monday from Huddersfield Town and Millwall respectively, but were not signed in time for this evening’s Championship tussle.