WILD FIRE
Blades told to put Wednesday on back burner as Forest are hot
CHRIS WILDER has ordered his Sheffield United tabletoppers to forget about the Steel City derby — because today’s clash with Nottingham Forest is just as big.
The Blades boss wants his side to still be at No.1 in the Championship when they welcome bitter cross-city rivals Wednesday to Bramall Lane on Friday.
To guarantee that, United must beat fellow promotion hopefuls at the City Ground now.
Wilder, 51, Sheffield-born and a devoted lifelong Blades fan, said:” You never know what is around the corner in football.
“But, pound for pound, we are right up there and deserve to be in the position we’re in. The key is can we keep it going?
“If we keep everyone fit and healthy, and keep playing well, then I believe we can. It’s in our control.
“It’s a big week ahead for us – a great week, in fact, with two fantastic games. We all know the derby is just around the corner.
“But I think the players are experienced enough to understand Forest is just as big a game – and one we want to win just as much as beating our city rivals.
“We want to go into the derby top of the division and that will happen if we win at Forest. So three points at the City Ground must be the aim.” Wilder has a healthy respect for Forest boss Aitor Karanka (inset).
He said: ”It will be tough, make no mistake.
“Under Aitor, Forest are a very powerful, top-end Championship team.
“They are going well with a talented manager, who has won promotion out of this division, and we will have to be bang at it to get a result.”