The bigger picture behind Sydie Peck's remarkable hat-trick as England U21 star breaks midfield mould
Sydie Peck's hat-trick at Preston was Sheffield United’s first in seven years and was about more than just the goals, with Chris Wilder explaining why he sees the England U21 international as an all-round midfielder rather than a conventional six or eight...
After eventually emerging from the Deepdale tunnel, placing his signed matchball and shirt pitchside and speaking to the assembled media, Sydie Peck looked like a man pretty pleased with his evening's work.
And why, after scoring Sheffield United's first hat-trick since 2019, wouldn't he be?
His remarkable first-half treble ultimately helped the Blades to victory over Preston North End, ticking off another little milestone as they continue to nudge themselves in the right direction.
Despite registering back-to-back wins for the first time this season United are far from the finished article and another slow start sparked some frustration, as they failed to maintain the momentum they generated by beating Wrexham a few days earlier.
But once they, and Peck, took over, you could see the first signs of confidence creeping into their play and, in truth, the game should have been done and dusted long before Callum Lang took advantage of some sloppy defending to set up a slightly nervy finish.
Peck could even have finished the game with more goals, forcing a save from Daniel Iversen in the second half and drilling a shot wide of the far post from a narrow angle. “Possibly, he'll say: ‘The manager has had a bit of a pop at me because I could have got a couple more,’” Wilder said of Peck.
“As always, it's not letting the players get too ahead of themselves and keeping their feet on the ground. We dug him out at Portsmouth, when he went chasing the game and charging forward in the 92nd minute.
“So I had a little nip at him and [Liam Kitching] because I think he's got to be a little bit sensible and disciplined in those situations. But I don't want to stifle him either. We've got some good players at the club, and he's one of them."
Peck’s first goal may have had a touch of fortune about it, although he put his cross in an area that gave it a chance of sneaking in if it didn’t get a touch from anyone in the middle, but his second was a rocket of a finish. A “worldie,” as he rightly described it afterwards.
But it was the third that seemed to please him the most. United were 2-1 ahead at the time and after scoring twice, Peck could have been forgiven for taking a breath and allowing his mind to wander towards half-time.
Instead he bust a gut to get into the box and tap home from Romelle Donovan’s cross, becoming the first Blade since James Beattie - in April 2008 against Leicester - to score three before the break.
With Kalvin Phillips - or, at Deepdale Jairo Riedewald - providing defensive cover, Peck has been given licence to roam further forward and the hope is that the England U21 man can now build on that going forward.
“He’s always scored right the way through,” Wilder added. “For the U18s and U21s. He can finish. He's had some opportunities and with him playing a little bit higher, getting him in the box, he has got that ability to do that.
“We don’t look at sixes and eights, or sixes and high, or sixes and low or whatever numbers people like to chuck at players. We’re looking at Sydie as an all-round midfield player.”