SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 14 hrs 58 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Chris Wilder : 'Sheffield United have nothing to lose'

:Headline: Chris Wilder : 'Sheffield United have nothing to lose': ID:430803: from db_amp
The Blades are bottom of the Premier League table and nine points from safety.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder feels there is no pressure on his team as they look to pull off the greatest of escapes and survive in the Premier League this season.

The Blades have been written off by most after making the worst start to a season in the history of English top-flight football.

Tuesday night's victory against Newcastle was their first Premier League win of the campaign, following 15 defeats in 17 matches.

Wilder's side head into the weekend's round of fixtures bottom of the table and nine points from safety – a gap which may have grown by the time they kick off against Tottenham at Bramall Lane on Sunday afternoon.

The ignominy of getting fewer points than the 11 Derby managed in 2007-08 is also a real possibility for the Blades.

"I think the pressure has been off us for the last season and a half because, and rightly so, we were written off as soon as we stepped into the division, for obvious reasons," said Wilder, who guided the Blades to a ninth-placed finish on the club's return to the Premier League last season.

"That doesn't change for me but the outside perception, of course, changes because of what you achieve. But nothing really changes for me – we are underdogs in an extremely competitive division.

"I've said basically right the way along that we have nothing to lose anyway. It's possibly changed a little bit from last year but most people would expect us to be battling it out where we currently are, although we are battling it out in a position where we didn't expect to be in terms of points total.

"But that is something that we need to affect, whether it's nothing to lose or everything to lose we need to have the balls to go out there and produce performances when the pressure is on. That's what this division is all about and we have to keep doing it."

The Blades' injury problems are showing little signs of easing. He did not name names, but Wilder expects to be without seven players on Sunday.

George Baldock, Enda Stevens, Jack Rodwell and Oli McBurnie were among those absent in midweek against Newcastle. Lys Mousset was on the bench for that game despite nursing a knock.

Sander Berge (toe) and Jack O'Connell (knee) remain long-term absentees.

amp_article__430803 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-01-16 12:22:21:
html db last update - 2021-03-10 19:50:25 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Chris Wilder

Click here for more stories about Sheffield United

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .