WILDER HAPPY TO CLINCH WIN
Blades boss defends hugging after ‘ emotional’ victory
CHRIS WILDER defended his players’ celebrations after Sheffield United finally registered their first Premier League win of the season.
The Blades mobbed Billy Sharp when he scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot against 10- man Newcastle, ignoring new coronavirus protocols which ban hugging.
But Bramall Lane boss Wilder thought their reaction was understandable given they had been waiting so long for a victory.
“I know we had talked before that the country was looking on tonight, but it’s an emotional game on the pitch and on the touchline,” he said.
“It ’s unnatural and unreal . How can they not?
“They’re team- mates and you can’t see them just walking back to the halfway line. I ’m delighted to win and it’s been too long.”
Newcastle were also Derby’s only fall guys during the Rams’ awful campaign 13 years ago which ended in relegation with a Premier League record low of 11 points, and Steve Bruce’ s side have gone eight games without a win.
He accepted Toon’s first- half display was poor, but felt referee Andy
Madley got it wrong in giving a penalty against Federico Fernandez for handball.
“I can’t see the penalty, I can’t see it,” said Bruce.
“I’ ve looked back at it four or five times. Arguably it’s a foul on Freddy and you can’t say he has handled the ball.
“The point of VAR is to over turn cl ear and obvious mistakes and if that’s not a clear and obvious mistake then we might as well wrap the whole VAR up.”
Bruce’s negative tactics with f ive at the back handed the initiative to the Blades and John Lundstram twice went close, while David M cG old rick was denied by To on keeper Karl Darlow.
The visitors should have taken the lead with their first effort, but Callum Wilson headed wide from Fernandez’s cross.
The Blades would not be adrift at the bottom had they had played like this before and Mcgoldrick headed over before Darlow saved a Jayden Bogle shot.
Newcastle were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half- time when Ryan Fraser was sent off ( left) ) following a second yellow card for stupid ly catching Mcgoldrick late, just three minutes after being booked for fouling John Fleck.
Wilder smelled blood and threw on Rhian Brewster and Sharp and on 73 minutes the home side were ahead .
Fernandez knocked the ball away with his left hand as he tussled with Sharp and referee Madley pointed to the spot after reviewing the incident on a pitchside monitor.
Sharp made no mistake to score his 100th league goal for his beloved Blades, nearly 13 years after his first.
Newcastle pushed for an equaliser and Wilson headed straight at Aaron Ramsdale seconds before Brewster’ s deflected shot hit a post.
The Blades had to survive one final heart-stopping moment when Bogle nearly chested the ball into his own net before they could celebrate.