We need to stand up and be counted, says Baldock

SHEFFIELD United defender George Baldock says the backing boss Chris Wilder has had from owner Prince Abdullah is ‘music to all our ears’ for the players.

Baldock has also stressed the need for the players to now repay the faith Wilder has shown in them as they battle for Premier League survival.

The rock-bottom Blades, who Wilder guided to promotion from League One in 2017 and the Championship two years later, suffered an 11th defeat in 12 games when at Southampton on Sunday.

The match was attended by Prince Abdullah, who said: ‘I will stick with Chris no matter what.’

Asked about that ahead of tonight’s clash with Manchester United, Baldock said: ‘It’s music to all our ears, of course. At the end of the day, we are the ones coming up short on the pitch.

‘To question this manager after the moments he’s given us all at this club – he’s done a remarkable job.’

Baldock, who has just signed a new deal running to 2024, added: ‘He’s given nearly all of us the opportunity to come to this club, improve, work in a great environment, and biggest of all, he has stuck with us and given us that opportu

nity to play Premier League football. We need to repay that faith, we did that last year but have come up a little bit short this year. It’s great he has the backing and (we are) fully behind him to help us get back to where we need to be.

‘We have complete faith in whatever team is put out there, whatever the manager chooses to do. We have to stand up and be counted.

‘We see it all over social media and television, the stats that say we don’t have a chance, but why can’t we be that one team that defies the odds?

‘We’re absolutely devastated about the start we’ve made but there’s no point dwelling on those previous games. I believe the character in that dressing room has the ability to overcome this.’