Wilder salutes ‘steely’ Blades as they ignite survival hopes

SHEFFIELD UNITED had been accused of throwing in the towel in their battle for survival. On this evidence, there is plenty of fight left in Chris Wilder’s side yet.

A week on from the dismal 5-0 home drubbing by Aston Villa, the Blades recorded their first league victory on the road this season as they ripped up the formbook and cut the gap with 17th-placed Luton to seven points.

‘There was a steely attitude and a desire to go a little way to putting what went wrong last week into today’s performance and we did it,’ delighted boss Wilder said. ‘I told the players there was only one place where they could go to answer what people might think about them — and that’s on the pitch. It was time to dig out a performance and they certainly did that.’

Two goals in six first-half minutes put them on course. Cameron Archer went from zero to hero, first producing one of the misses of the season before making immediate amends seconds later in the 30th minute.

Archer took advantage of a mistake by Gabriel Osho, as he nipped in and finished with aplomb. The relief was there for all to see.

Then VAR intervened after 36 minutes. Referee Chris Kavanagh judged Reece Burke to have handled in the area when blocking a Vini Souza header and awarded a penalty. It was coolly converted by James McAtee.

Luton got a spot-kick of their own in similar circumstances just after the break, Kavanagh giving handball against Souza after VAR told him to go to the pitchside monitor. Carlton Morris did the rest to halve the deficit.

‘I don’t think either of them were penalties,’ said Luton boss Rob Edwards.

Now it became a test of Sheffield United’s mettle, and thankfully for Wilder and the 1,350 travelling fans, it was one they passed.

As Luton went in search of an equaliser, the visitors countered. Ben Osborn fed Souza, whose right-footed drive found the bottom corner to seal the deal after 72 minutes. Cue pandemonium in the away end. Defeat here drags Luton back into the dogfight as they missed the chance to go four points clear of Everton. ‘It was an opportunity but there’s still a long way to go,’ added Edwards.

‘The players will pick themselves up, ready to attack the week.’