Why boss Chris Wilder went 'soft' before Sheffield United's win over Tottenham

United, who have been linked with a move for Reading’s John Swift, recorded their most impressive victory of the season so far despite seeing John Fleck, John Lundstram and Luke Freeman join an ever growing injury list before the game - winning 3-1 thanks to goals from Sander Berge, Lys Mousset and Oli McBurnie.

United, who climbed to seventh in the table ahead of Sunday’s visit to Burnley, entered the meeting with Jose Mourinho’s side without a win since competition resumed a fortnight ago following an enforced three month break.

“Maybe they’ve seen a softer me? Maybe it was the right time to do it,” Wilder said, after watching Harry Kane score a late consolation for the visitors. “The players and what they’ve achieved so far has been brilliant. Maybe they needed a bit of a lift as well. It’s been really positive around the training ground during the build-up to this game whereas before, because of how things have been going, it wasn;t such a happy place.”

“The boys have gone about it in the right way,” Wilder added. “They’ve been getting their heads down, being humble and taking responsibility for their own performances.”

Spurs thought they had drawn soon after Berge’s opener but Kane’s effort was disallowed for a handball by Lucas Moura following a VAR review. Mourinho was furious with the decision and Wilder, whose team have suffered more than any other top-flight club at the hands of the system this term, admitted: “It’s a nonsense rule and I understand their frustration because I would have been incredibly frustrated if that had gone against me. We are the runaway leaders of that particular division and so we know how they feel. But here’s for once, maybe we got the rub of the green. Not before time either.”

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With the loss of three more players exposing the lack of depth in United’s squad compared to other top-flight clubs - Wilder did not name a full complement of substitutes on the bench - his scouts have already begun the process of identifying possible targets for this summer’s transfer window with Swift reportedly among the names under consideration. The 25-year-old made one appearance for Chelsea after graduating from their youth programme in 2014, but spent the majority of his time at Stamford Bridge out on loan before moving to Berkshire two years later.

A former England under-21 international, he has made nearly 150 appearances since, scoring 20 goals in the process, and featured when United knocked Mark Bowen’s side out of the FA Cup in March.

Speaking earlier this month, Wilder admitted to revising his recruitment strategy because of the financial effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Asked if Fleck, Lundstram and Freeman would be available at Turf Moor, Wilder said: “They’ll be out for a few weeks I’m afraid, so no.”

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