BLADE STUNNER
Beers and cheers as Sheffield United celebrate unlikely promotion
TOGETHERNEss has been sheffield United’s mantra all season so it was no surprise that their players flocked to Bramall Lane yesterday to celebrate promotion to the Premier League with each other.
United, last in the top flight in 2007, did their job by beating Ipswich 2- 0 on saturday and manager Chris Wilder and his squad returned to the stadium 24 hours later to watch the 1-1 draw between Leeds and Aston Villa, which confirmed they will face the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool next season.
Reminiscent of an England fanzone, there was plenty of beer thrown in the air at full time, joyful piggy-back rides and 51-year-old Wilder pogoing and singing his heart out with bottle in hand.
He said with some emotion: ‘I’ve had muppets from Leeds talking about how the pressure is on us, that they’ve got Patrick Bamford and Adam Forshaw and one or two others.
‘They’ve been beaten seven times since Christmas. We’ve been beaten once and steamrollered it.
‘Absolute 100 per cent credit to Marcelo Bielsa (for allowing Villa to equalise after his side scored in unsporting circumstances).
‘There is a true football man there and he made that right call. Obviously it’s gone against them but it was the right call.’
United’s promotion is remarkable under hometown hero Wilder. On one of the smaller budgets in the Championship, he has built a team full of energy and attacking intent, with no superstars.
Defender George Baldock, a typical signing from MK Dons in 2017, puts their success down to following a Bournemouth blueprint, with Wilder a big admirer of how Eddie Howe pushed the Cherries through the divisions and into an established Premier League club.
‘I remember at my first pre-season here, the manager talked to us about Bournemouth and how a lot of their lads had come up from League Two,’ said Baldock.
‘He told us we could do the same and asked why not. We’ve got hard work and togetherness, but some bloody good players as well.
‘Everyone talks about the talent in the Leeds and Norwich dressing rooms but we’ve got it as well. A lot of the lads were here in League One and it’s been one hell of a ride.
‘The gaffer has brought it all together. What a job. He has the mindset of starting like we’re a goal behind. It’s a philosophy he’s drilled into us.’
Wilder was a promotion specialist at Northampton before moving to United, where he spent seven seasons as a player over two spells.
They were promoted from League One in 2017 and have kept the momentum going at a higher level. Their win over Ipswich came via goals from Aston Villa loanee scott Hogan and Jack O’Connell, and they could have scored 10.
There are internal squabbles at the top of the club, however, with co- owners Kevin McCabe and Prince Abdullah of saudi Arabia due to see each other in court. There is also limited Premier League experience. Chris Basham had a small run at Bolton a decade ago and top-scorer Billy sharp, 33, played twice there for southampton in 2013. Gary Madine also made a fleeting top-flight appearance.
But Wilder is immensely proud of bringing players through from humbler beginnings.
‘Mark Duffy, who has played at Morecambe and Burton, is an unbelievable story,’ said Wilder.
‘Fingers crossed he’ll be involved at Anfield and Old Trafford. Players like him didn’t come here for the big pay day.’
The Blades will, however, be red-hot favourites to be relegated back to the Championship immediately.
Wilder knows strengthening the squad is vital, which depends on harmony at the top of the club.
‘It is a big summer, obviously, with the ownership point of view,’ he said. ‘We have to get certain things right. ‘If we’re going to play in the Premier League, we need to go and enjoy it.’