Bruce fires back at new boss talk
Blades defy bad breaks
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CHRIS WILDER claims qualifying for Europe would be one of Sheffield United’s greatest achievements due to the injustices they have suffered.
They were robbed of two points at Aston Villa when Hawk-eye failed to award them a goal and Wilder feels his side have been on the wrong end of too many bad decisions.
And he says the Blades will deserve a parade if they can reach Europe for the first time because of the adversity they have faced.
“We’re top of the league for VAR decisions going against us,” said the Bramall Lane boss.
“We might have an open-top bus tour if we get into Europe because it would be one of the greatest achievements this club has had for decades.
“If you asked most
STEVE BRUCE has slammed speculation he could be jettisoned when new owners come in at Newcastle.
The Magpies resume their campaign against Sheffield United tomorrow with the Premier League still to decide whether or not to sanction Amanda Staveley’s £300m bid. It means there continues to be uncertainty surrounding Bruce’s own position, but the 59-year-old (left) insists he will not allow events off the pitch to distract his players and vows not to use them as an excuse for poor results.
But he admits talk of Mauricio Pochettino replacing him or Rafa Benitez returning has upset him.
“Some of it has been disrespectful,” said Bruce,
Sheffield United supporters who’ve followed them since the 1970s, this is going to be right up there.”
Wilder (inset) was damning on Wednesday, feeling VAR officials lacked the courage to overrule Hawk-eye and award the goal.
While he admits it still hurts, he insists it will not affect their preparations for tomorrow’s trip to Newcastle.
He added: “We quickly move on. We’ve dealt with disappointments exceptionally well over the last two or three years.
“We would not have got the results and the performances if we hadn’t been because there have been some down moments like on Wednesday night.
“We have to get over it quickly. No doubt, because of the character of the players, they will do that.” who is targeting a top-10 finish.
“But I’ve been in the job long enough to know the one thing you need more than anything is a thick skin and try and ride the storm.
“It’s never easy and it becomes unsettling, not for myself but for other people who are close to me, like my staff.
“With the takeover, I think everyone is a bit bored with it. We’ve heard it all before and it seems to drag on.
“But the one thing I can’t do is let it be an excuse.
“We’ve just got to focus on what we are paid to do, make sure we’ve prepared the players as best we can and win football matches.
“Take away that uncertainty and use it a little bit if we can. People have written off this team and myself all season. Let’s answer it in the best possible way by finishing as well as we can.”
Bruce has not given up hope of hanging on to Matty Longstaff, who has been offered a lucrative deal by Serie A side Udinese, while Andy Carroll and Javier Manquillo have verbally agreed new contracts.