You duds should sneak out back
Boss goes Wild at ‘arrogant’ Blades after they’re stung by Bees
SHEFF UTD .... 0 BARNET .... 1 CARL ASKEW AT BRAMALL LANE
CHRIS WILDER slammed his “arrogant” Sheffield United players after watching them crash out the FA Cup to minnows Barnet.
Shaquile Coulthirst’s first-half penalty saw the non-league Bees eliminate a side 83 places above them in the Football League pyramid – with the Vanarama National League side unfortunate not to win by a bigger margin.
And Wilder, who made 10 changes to his side from the team that beat Wigan, accused his players of being big heads.
The Blades boss said: “No complaints. We’re fortunate it was not two or three. They were the better team in every part of the game.
“I said to the boys, ‘Don’t go out through the main entrance, you don’t deserve it. Find a door to sneak out of.’
“It was a performance of arrogance, going off plan and doing what they wanted to. “The fans should have booed the players louder.
“We went out the back door today – that is incredibly difficult for me to take.”
Wilder is close to signing striker Gary Madine on loan from Cardiff but admitted he may now seek further reinforcements after seeing his fringe players turn in such an underwhelming display.
He said: “That team was good enough to win. I will take responsibility because they are players that I’ve signed and hopefully it was a one-off. But there was a real arrogance about the players in this game.
“This hurts as much as any defeat I’ve had in my time.
“I’m not just going to sweep it under the carpet. I’m looking and thinking we might not need one, we might need 11 recruits.”
Barnet made a lively start and had already had a goal ruled out for offside when Richard Stearman clumsily brought down Ephron Mason-Clark after a rapid Bees counter-attack, with Coulthirst converting from 12 yards.
Sheffield sub Billy Sharp forced Mark Cousins into his first save of note with a shot on the turn in 68 minutes before the Barnet keeper turned Leon Clarke’s header from six yards on to the bar late on.
Barnet caretaker Darren Currie said: “I’m so proud, honoured to be leading them, with the way they performed.”