Wilder ready to resist swinging axe for Blades
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is unlikely to wield the axe for tonight’s Bristol City clash despite open criticism of the Blades’ 3-1 loss at Millwall last weekend.
Manager Wilder appears likely to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes to his starting line-up when hosting the Bristol outfit this weekend.
The Blades chief has insisted his frustrations at the Millwall defeat have not trumped his annoyances with any other defeat this term.
“There’s been no different reaction to when we’ve lost before,” Wilder told the Sheffield Star.
“It’s a great group and what it’s done is outstanding. There’s no lack of effort or commitment on their part. On anyone’s part in fact.
“We’ve dropped our standards a little, it happens. You just get back on it. We’ve deserved every single result we’ve had this season, every single win.”
Wales international David Brooks is hoping for more first-team chances after netting his side’s only goal in the loss at Millwall.
Striker Ched Evans remains sidelined with long-term ankle trouble.
The Blades have now failed to win in three matches, but Wilder insists his charges have still produced a fine showing this term, to sit fourth in the table.
“Other people can look at budgets, money that’s been spent, where we should be in relation to that or whatever,” said Wilder. “For me, it’s just a game of football, whether that be a Friday night at Bramall Lane live or Graves Park pitch 10. We want to win.”
Winger Jamie Paterson is a doubt for Bristol City ahead of the trip to Sheffield.
The 25-year-old continues to struggle with his long-term hamstring injury, and could be forced out of the Bramall Lane encounter.
Paterson starred in City’s 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, but was withdrawn on 80 minutes.
Niclas Eliasson could step up if Paterson fails to find fitness in
time.
Four full rounds of Premier League games will be up for grabs in the new TV rights auction, it has been reported.
The games would consist of three midweek rounds of fixtures, and a bank holiday programme, and it would mean whole schedules of games being available to armchair viewers for the first time.
Seven different packages of games will go out to tender and of those, one will contain 20 games consisting of two midweek programmes and another will include a midweek and a bank holiday match schedule, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Another package reportedly includes eight Saturday night matches, each scheduled for 7.45pm, with each deal beginning in the 2019/20 season. Prime-time Premier League football on Saturday nights has been on the cards since being given the green light by club bosses last month.