Chris Wilder on Sheffield United 0 Burnley 2

The Star, Sheffield

Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, boss Chris Wilder dissects Sheffield United's 2-0 home defeat to fellow promotion-chasers Burnley at Bramall Lane

Transcript

00:00I didn't think there was much in the game. I've got to say, it was always going to be a cagey-tight game.

00:06They found that bit of quality first off that got the noses in front, but I didn't think, from my point of view,

00:11it was an evenly balanced game. I thought we started off the game very, very well.

00:15Had some good moments, but we just couldn't find that. Had control of the game, but knowing that they're dangerous.

00:21And to be fair to them, they found a way through our press and found a good cross, and it's a decent finish.

00:28I thought we were unfortunate to go in at half-time 1-0 down, started the second half right on the front foot,

00:35kicking towards the Kop. We knew where to raise it to try and get back into the game.

00:40We did, and then, for me, we got tucked up on a refereeing decision.

00:44So the times of the goal was just before half-time, and during our best period in the second half,

00:49gave them huge impetus and something to hang on to.

00:53And instead of chasing from one, we were chasing from two.

00:58I, yet again, quite easily could get myself into trouble. The reaction of the supporters said everything towards it.

01:09It's a free kick on the edge of the box, and we have an opportunity like they did, because they had exactly the same situation

01:16ten seconds later, where they countered.

01:19And then, from our point of view, an incredibly unfortunate goal to concede to go 2-0 down.

01:26But we have an opportunity of a free kick 20 yards out, because the referee's just blowing and orders a free kick.

01:34But he doesn't, and some, yet again, edge-scratching decisions that we've had to deal with.

01:42Not an excuse, just an honest appraisal of that performance.

01:45But we went to the end. I think it was a game, yet again, where a few things have gone against us,

01:50in terms of Vinny's injury and Harry Souter's injury, which doesn't look great.

01:55But we went to the end. We didn't collapse.

01:59We played against a team that have got very good technical players that are in their position for a reason.

02:05But I don't think we should think about our position as well.

02:09We had an opportunity today to go, after 23 games, a 4-5 points total in the history of Championship football.

02:1553 points behind Wolves and Leicester.

02:19So, I don't like losing. I don't want us to accept losing.

02:25But, you know, we have to deal with a day where things haven't gone for us.

02:30And, hopefully, we deal with it as we have dealt with it in the past, in terms of our reaction to disappointment.

02:35It was one of those where neither team really created too many good chances today, did they?

02:39No, it was a cagey team. It was a cagey game.

02:43It was always going to be decided by a bit of magic or a mistake,

02:49or somebody that, out of our control, makes a decision.

02:52So, they found their bit of quality, which they've got in their team, as you can see.

02:58We never found that little bit, close and nearly on so many occasions.

03:04But the timings of the goals have really killed us.

03:07The second goal has killed us, in terms of 55 minutes.

03:10When we're massively on top, I said at half-time, I think if we get the first one pretty early,

03:15then I think we'll be on top and, hopefully, go and claim a win.

03:21But to go 2-0 down in the manner was really disappointing.

03:25The deflection could go anywhere and it's gone in the top corner.

03:28So, one of those days where, as I said, things haven't gone for us and we have to regroup and go again.

03:33In terms of the first one, a little frustrating.

03:35The defence has hardly put a foot wrong at home,

03:37but Josh Brownhill finding a little bit of space at the back post.

03:40Has anybody missed a man there or anything?

03:42No, we've just got caught out by the press.

03:44We've gone chasing the press and, to be fair, they've switched it early.

03:48Overloaded us down the left and in the box.

03:51So, we've got our positions right.

03:53Harrison's had to come over because Fleming, I think, is in the centre of the goal

03:57and it's gone beyond him and the lads found a finish.

04:00So, we'll look at our point of view.

04:03We've gone chasing, really.

04:06So, I can't be over-critical in terms of us trying to press.

04:09Sometimes, which we have done the majority of times, we get that organisation right.

04:15But the attitude to go and press.

04:17They've got some good players.

04:19I know they've lost a few in the summer,

04:23but see their bench and see the quality that they've got off the bench coming on Foster.

04:29They've got Kylian Mbappé to come on and other players.

04:32They're a really strong squad.

04:34We've had to deal with that with our squad being incredibly stretched today.

04:41Baptiste on the bench, Martial on the bench, Blacker on the bench, Brooksy on the bench.

04:46So, it's a little bit of a test in time for us,

04:50but from an availability point of view, that won't be out with Suter's situation and Vini's situation.

04:58In terms of both of them, Harry Suter coming off late on, that didn't look good at all.

05:03I've got to say, I fear the worst.

05:06We'll have that scanned and looked at over the next 24 hours,

05:10but that didn't look great from his point of view.

05:12He's a big old boy and he's a brave boy, but that didn't look great.

05:19But, as I said, we're going to have to deal with this.

05:22This was a tight game today.

05:24I don't want people going home and thinking we've been absolutely done and outclassed.

05:30We weren't.

05:31I will say, which I've always said and I'm honest, I don't spin like other managers do

05:35and say that was a really tight game or a great performance when it wasn't.

05:40It wasn't our best performance.

05:42It was a tight game against a quality team, two teams that are at the top of the division,

05:46but there was nothing in that game today.

05:48Absolutely nothing in that game.

05:50Unfortunately, we just fell a little bit short in the result point of view.

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