Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder believes his side proved they can compete with the Championship’s leading teams despite suffering a late defeat to Wolves.
The Blades were beaten 1-0 at Bramall Lane on Sunday when substitute Raul Jimenez struck in the 90th minute – but Wilder was encouraged by a performance in which his side went “toe to toe with a good side”.
Wolves created the majority of the chances, but Wilder felt Sheffield United more than matched their opponents after the break – and he was frustrated that they could not turn their good positions into a result.
Good performance
“It was a really good performance against a top side,” Wilder told the press after the match.
“It’s not a yo-yo Premier League club, is it? Still got some really good players.
“I thought, especially second half, it was the game that we wanted.
“I think first half we went after them and we were just a bit off. If you don’t get your timing of your press right, then they could pick it off.
“I think the shape of the team was good, good individual performances right the way through from everybody. And second half, it was the game that we wanted.
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Good territory
“Just slightly disappointed when we got into some good positions, good territory, that we didn’t find the quality. They found their quality with the goal.
“I’m not sat here with rose-tinted glasses saying we absolutely dominated it. I don’t like that and other managers do that.
“They’re a good side. They should be up there with the players that they’ve got, substitutions that they make.
“We went toe to toe with a good side. Just disappointing for the players and the supporters.”
Blades fans hailed
Wilder was also pleased with the patience shown by the home crowd, believing their support gave his players extra energy.
“The supporters didn’t get impatient, which was great, and gave the boys some real energy that we needed,” he said.
The result leaves Sheffield United 14th in the Championship, although they remain just two points behind Wolves in seventh.
“We’re here to win games, so that’s a disappointment,” Wilder added. “If you play as well as we did, you have to take something from the game.”
Wolves ‘stayed together’
Wolves head coach Cesar Peixoto, meanwhile, praised his side’s character after their late winner and said the victory was an important boost to their promotion ambitions.
“We stayed together until the end,” Peixoto said. “I think we deserved the win because we created more and more chances.
“The win is very, very important for the confidence of the players.
“For a team that wants to fight to be promoted to the Premier League, it’s important to take points away also.
“But today I don’t look only for the points, I look to the soul of the team during 90 minutes to win the game, to the belief of the team, the effort of the players during the game.”
