BLADES GIVE THEIR MANAGER WILDER MOMENT
Big win eases a tough week
SHEFFIELD United recorded their first away win since November to keep hold of sixth place in an emotional win for Blades boss Chris Wilder.
James Wilson’s first goal for the Blades got them off to the perfect start and Alexander Tettey’s poor back pass allowed Clayton Donaldson to double the lead. Ivo Pinto quickly pulled one back for Norwich but they could not muster a second in an overall poor display.
Wilder celebrated passionately with the travelling fans after his side secured an important three points that ended a poor spell of form after a difficult week for the manager.
“It meant a lot to me personally because of bits and pieces that have gone on over the last week,” Wilder explained. “My father-inlaw isn’t very well and he’s a big supporter of myself and, more importantly, the team. So there was a bit of emotion in that at the end. It wasn’t anything directed at the opposition.
“It was a real tough game and for them to go 120 minutes on Wednesday and then to push us at the end, full credit to the way they about it.
“We asked a few questions in the week and we thought we needed another good performance like that we have been given over the last eight or nine games, but marry it up with a win and we’ve managed to do that.
“It was a tight game and could have gone the other way.”
The visitors dominated the first half and were quickly ahead when Jack O’Connell made the most of Nelson Oliveira’s poor clearance to find Wilson, who hit the ball on the turn, low through a crowd of players into the bottom right corner.
The Blades continued to convert their dominance into chances and a double save was needed from Angus Gunn to deny Ryan Leonard.
George Baldock wasted a chance when he hit over with Gunn out of his net, while James Maddison’s deflected free-kick and a curling Timm Klose shot were the only significant firsthalf threats to Simon Moore’s goal.
United struggled to find a second but a misjudged backpass from Alexander Tettey gave Donaldson a clear path to goal, with the striker confidently bending the ball passed Gunn.
The two-goal lead only lasted two minutes. Pinto moved through the Blades box unmarked and guided a high header over Moore and into the top left for what ended up being a consolation for the Canaries.
Individual errors were to blame for both Sheffield United goals and Norwich manager Daniel Farke was disappointed to lose ground on their opponents because of the mistake.
“One hundred per cent, it was one of those days where the mistakes cost us,” Farke said. “I’m really disappointed because we wanted to go on with our unbeaten run and at least keep the distance to Sheffield United to six points.
“We were highly motivated and prepared but when you have such a tough week with 120 minutes against Chelsea it’s important to be really concentrated and play without poor mistakes, especially at the start . After a few moments when we had a situation where we had the ball and there was no need to give them a corner kick.
“Then you’ve got in your mind that it’s always the same, and then you feel your legs a bit and in the first 30 minutes we were totally struggling.”