Woody’s still firing blanks but says he will not feel down
CHRIS WILDER has that old school look about him. But once in the dugout he becomes a modernday manager full of swashbuckling verve.
Never more so than yesterday when, with his Sheffield United outfit trailing to Robert Snodgrass’ first league goal in 22 games, Wilder produced an inspired double substitution.
Throwing on two strikers in the space of five minutes just after the hour mark was a bold move – and one which reaped an immediate, glorious reward.
With his first meaningful kick Lys Mousset, whose introduction followed quickly on the heels of skipper Billy Sharp’s arrival, snatched a share of the spoils from West Ham.
Not a bad way for the Frenchman to follow up his winner against Arsenal on Monday night. He now has three goals since his £10million move from Bournemouth.
And not a bad way for United to exact some revenge on the Hammers, whose controversial signing of Carlos Tevez in 2007 was responsible for their relegation from the elite.
Lifelong Blades fan Wilder certainly enjoyed the moment. The Yorkshireman said: “I thought we had the game in our hands when I brought them on. We always have a positive approach – and we did that today.
“I felt the goal was coming, that it was only a matter of time before we scored – but that we had to take a few more risks.
“Of course, Tevez is a talking point between these clubs but I don’t want to dwell on the past – it’s a while ago now.
“I wanted us to create new memories for the younger fans – and those who have watched the club through thick and thin.”
As for dropping Mousset after his heroics five days earlier, Wilder admitted that was down to the forward’s lack of match sharpness and a draining week.
“It was a difficult decision but he’s not up to speed yet,” explained the straight-talking one-time United defender.
“It would have been easy to stick with the same team but it was the right call. He’d had an emotional week, physically and mentally. But Lys came on and looked a real threat. I’m delighted how he took his opportunity.”
Opposite number Manuel Pellegrini also tried to pull off a result-changing shuffle.
However, hauling off Snodgrass – by far the most creative player on the pitch – failed to do the trick. Indeed, all it did was land him plenty of stick from the unhappy Hammers faithful.
But the Chilean coach later hit back at the boo-boys and said: “We wanted to score the goal to decide the game.
“Robert had worked a lot and had a very good game but we wanted fresh legs to try and win.”
The Hammers have not won in five in all competitions and their inability to kill off opposition when seemingly in control was again a big issue here.
Despite the anticipated grudge clash – over the Tevez affair – this showdown produced nothing remotely feisty and Pellegrini added: “We had three or four more options to score in the second half but didn’t take them.
“Of course, we’re disappointed. It’s more dropped points at home. It was the same in our previous home game with Palace.”
BORO BOSS Jonathan Woodgate’s woes were summed up as his side failed to score against
10-man Fulham – and dropped into the bottom three.
The visitors had keeper Marek Rodak sent off for handling outside his area in only the 17th minute.
But it wasn’t until stoppage time that Boro mustered a shot on target when Paddy McNair’s first-time strike went straight at Rodak’s replacement, Marcus Bettinelli.
Lewis Wing had drilled a 72nd-minute free-kick against the foot of a post after McNair was brought down by Harrison Reed.
But it was a second successive goalless draw for Boro, who have now gone seven games without a win and have only won twice since Woodgate took charge this summer.
The Boro boss said: “I would have preferred it to have been 11 versus 11. It sounds strange but we had a gameplan.
“We had chances before their keeper was sent off but after that we didn’t have the creativity to break them down. I wish he’d stayed on.
“We need to start scoring. I didn’t have a striker on the bench so I didn’t have the options to change it which is disappointing.’’
Boro striker Ashley Fletcher was guilty of an astonishing miss when he lifted the ball over in Wednesday’s
0-0 draw at Huddersfield – and he wasted a ninth-minute opportunity yesterday, firing high after being set up by Marcus Tavernier.
Rodak was redcarded after he handled as he raced to meet Jonny Howson’s run on the end of Wing’s crossfield ball.
Recalled £15million club-record buy Britt Assombalonga’s far-post header was badly misdirected on
38 minutes after Wing delivered a teasing centre.
And Fulham’s finishing was no better. Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic
– a former Boro target – boasted 16 goals in
16 games for club and country before this encounter but even he couldn’t convert, nodding over Joe Bryan’s centre in the 66th minute.
Fulham boss Scott Parker still saw the game as a “massive moment’’ for his side. He said: “I’m probably the proudest I’ve been of my team in the six months I’ve been in the job.
“We top many of the stats in this division. But the players showed me things a number can’t measure – desire, passion, effort and a real mentality which ultimately is going to define us.
“I think this is a massive moment for us.’’
On Rodak’s dismissal, Parker added: “Marek said it hit the top of his shoulder. We’ll look at it and appeal if we need to appeal.’’