SHARP SLAMS SHAMEFUL BLADES

BILLY SHARP claims Sheffield United are back where they were when Chris Wilder took over five years ago.

The Blades finished mid-table in League One when Wilder arrived at Bramall Lane to begin an ascent which took them to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season. They have been on the slide since and Wilder has left after falling out with the board, with his beloved Blades destined for relegation. United were walloped 5-0 by Leicester on Sunday in their first game without him and an emotional Sharp (after the match, left) spoke of “unbelievable memories” under him.

The striker said: “This season we have become really poor and it needs sorting.

“When the gaffer came in we were like this and we became a very good team.

“Now we’ve become a not very good team and we need to get together and find something for the fans. I feel for them at the minute.

“We’ve lost far too many games this season. We’re going to get relegated and we need to find something to get some momentum for next season.”

Sharp branded United’s display at Leicester as their worst for five years and claims it could have been 9-0.

“No excuses, embarrassing,” said the Blades diehard and skipper.

“It’s probably the worst performance we’ve had for five years, totally unacceptable. I don’t think we had a shot on target, I think that’s happened three times this season now. It could have been nine in the end. Not good enough at all.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, there’s still a lot of the season left.

“That performance is one of the worst since I’ve been back at the club.

“If we play like that again and roll over, just give up, then we will get beat five or six in a few more games.”