The only party in town for Wilder
UNITED FAN: Wilder SHEFFIELD UNITED boss Chris Wilder says there is only one important event this weekend.
Wilder celebrated his
50th birthday yesterday but that landmark will play second fiddle to his side’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday today.
The Blades make the short journey along the
A61 for the 128th Steel City derby – the first since
2012 – and Wilder, a lifelong United fan, is relishing the encounter.
“There’s only one big occasion this weekend and that’s the derby,” Wilder said.
“These are the games we want to be involved in. It’s why we worked so hard to come up.
“We won’t take a backward step. We’ll be on the front foot, as we always have been. That’s the way we want to play.”
The Blades have made an impressive start to life back in the Championship following their demolition of League One last season and are above their neighbours in the table.
Wednesday have been strong in the second tier over the last two seasons, though, getting to the play-offs each time, and Wilder says the hosts are favourites.
“I’m not playing mind games or anything like that,” he added.
“They are under pressure to get out, that’s a statement of fact.”
While Wilder is a Sheffield native through and through, supporting the Blades as a boy and going on to play for them, his opposite number Carlos Carvalhal is getting his first taste of the derby.
The Portuguese describes himself as a “Sheffield Wednesday citizen” and insists the importance of the game is not lost on him.
“I have felt like I have lived here a long, long time,” he said.
“I have talked to people since the first day that I arrived so I know how important the derby is.
“I have played in a lot of derbies and I know what they are about. SportingBenfica is something unbelievable. Besiktas v Galatasaray and so on.
“These kind of games are very important to the fans and we understand that.
“This is a massive club and we have an obligation to fight for three points.” Sheff Wed v Sheff Utd
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