Blades look sharp in top flight return
Few would have predicted that at this stage of the season, after a 12-year absence from the Premier League, newly-promoted Sheffield United would be in the top half, in ninth place, let alone looking down the table to see Manchester United five places below them.
That’s not bad for a team that just about every football pundit tipped as relegation fodder at the start of the season.
It’s early days of course, with only a quarter of the season gone, and there is plenty of time for things to go wrong. But the Blades and their fans will be extremely happy with their performances so far, highlighted by Monday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal at Bramall Lane.
The victory over the Gunners, a club with vastly bigger resources, was United’s third of the season having earlier beaten Crystal Palace and then notching an impressive 2-0 away win at Everton.
They also came back from 2-0 down to earn a creditable draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and put up a good fight against Liverpool before losing 1-0.
Much of their success goes down to manager Chris Wilder, a solid 51-year-old Yorkshireman who played for the club from 198692 and briefly returned in the late 1990s. Little wonder Blades fans serenade him with “He’s one of our own.”
Wilder’s managerial experience has until now been in the lower leagues, but nonetheless he has an impressive record, winning promotion with three separate clubs.
In 2008 he took on the job at Oxford United in the Conference and made an immediate impression winning 15 of the last 21 matches that season.
Oxford continued their good form the following year, winning the Conference play-off final, defeating York 3-1.
Michael Duberry, who played under Wilder at Oxford, was impressed by the way he created team spirit: “He could be ruthless … but he listened and at team meetings everyone was encouraged to speak.”
Wilder’s achievement at his next job was even more remarkable. He joined Northampton Town when the club were bottom of the entire football league, six points adrift at the foot of League Two and looking a lost cause.
Somehow Wilder turned things around so they finished mid-table in what was a remarkable escape.
Things got even better the following season when they won the League Two title, including nine straight wins, a Cobblers record.
Northampton midfielder Joel Byrom told Sky Sports: “It was an unbelievable time.. He [Wilder] brought the whole club together in a time of need.”
Wilder joined Sheffield United in 2016 and promptly guided the club to promotion after six long years in League One.
After just missing out in his first season in the Championship, Wilder then led United to promotion to the Premier League as runners up to Norwich.
Following two promotions in three years with United, Wilder was awarded the prestigious LMA Manager of the Year award, beating the likes of Pep Guardiola and Juergen Klopp.
Wilder called the award “unbelievable”, adding “it is dreams, inspiration for everybody.”
Like many of the old established clubs, United’s best years were a long time ago, between 1895-1925 to be precise.
It was during this period they won their only top flight title in 1898, and achieved four FA Cup triumphs. Since their 1925 Cup final win over Cardiff their only silverware has come from sporadic promotions.
The club’s worst period was 1975-81 when they plunged from sixth place in the top flight to end up in the old Division Four.
By 1990 they had hauled themselves back into Division One and were among the founder members of the new Premier League.
The Blades’ Brian Deane scored the Premier League’s first-ever goal against Manchester United in August 1992.
But they were relegated in 1994 and although they returned to the top flight in 2004 under Neil Warnock, they only lasted one season.
One match Blades fans would like to forget was on March 2, 2002, in the second tier against West Brom, which became known as the “Battle of Bramall Lane.”
It was brimming with ill-feeling and after the United goalkeeper was sent off early on it deteriorated into a roughhouse with some dreadful tackles.
Three Blades players were sent off and with another two going off injured, it left them with just six players.
The referee had no alternative but to abandon the game with West Brom ahead 3-0.
Baggies manager Gary Megson commented: “I’ve never ever witnessed anything as disgraceful as that.”
A contrite Warnock responded with “I wouldn’t imagine Gary would be having a drink with me tonight.”
Despite the club’s mixed fortunes, the Blades have consistently enjoyed strong support and Bramall Lane has always been a difficult place for visiting teams.
After Wolves manager Graham Taylor was abused by fans back in 1995, Blades manager Dave Bassett explained: “There are grounds where you know you will get covered in spittle and you wear your old clothes.”
Some years later when he was Chelsea boss, Jose Mourinho observed: “Places like this are the soul of English football. The crowd is magnificent, singing ‘f--- off Mourinho.’ ”
One of their biggest fans is actor Sean Benn, who was a director of the club for a few years until he fell out badly with Warnock.
A supporter of the Blades since his childhood, the actor has a tattoo on his arm which reads: “100 per cent Blade”.
Boosted by Monday’s disposal of Arsenal, today the Blades have the more mundane task of taking on West Ham at the London Stadium.
Wouldn’t they just love to make it two in a row over London opposition?