Chris Wilder urges Sheffield United to maintain self-belief against in-form Aston Villa
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Chris Wilder has won one of three games in his second spell as Sheffield United manager.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Chris Wilder insisted on Dec 20 that basement club Sheffield United must retain their self-belief if they are to stand a chance of winning at high-flying Aston Villa.
The Blades have yet to win away from home this season, with the club’s two league victories from 17 games both coming at their Bramall Lane base.
They now face a difficult trip on Dec 22 to Villa Park, where Unai Emery’s side have won their last 15 Premier League games.
Victory over Sheffield United will provisionally take Villa top of the table.
“They’ve had 15 wins out of 15 at home, so always a tough place to go,” Wilder said of Villa during a press conference on Dec 20.
“They’re on a fabulous run and an incredibly well-coached team with outstanding individuals and an opportunity for them to go top of the division Friday night.
“There’s a lot of issues we’ve got to solve on the night but as we talked about, it’s no good getting on the bus if you don’t believe or have confidence in your ability or your team’s ability to go and get a result and that’s how we must approach the game.
“(Emery is) a world-class operator with what he’s achieved and won in Europe and the standing he has in the game. He’s put that work in Villa really quickly and the majority of us are not surprised in terms of the effect the manager has had on that team.”
Wilder has won one of three games in his second spell as Sheffield United manager, since replacing the sacked Paul Heckingbottom earlier in December.
“They’ve been battered and bruised, it’s been a difficult first part of the season,” added Wilder, whose side are six points from safety.
“They’ve shown enough life to me in the last three games that there is something in the season for us. We have to keep that going and hopefully, they can keep on that upward trajectory they are showing me and, more importantly, the supporters.
“We’ve got to keep improving and we are learning on the job in the hardest league in the world.”
Sheffield United have been beset by injuries this season but Wilder said: “It still is a young, inexperienced and naive group, but as I said no excuses.
“We go there and no matter what group we pick, we fully expect and demand a committed and together performance because if not, you get pulled apart at places like Villa Park.”
Meanwhile, the Dec 16 Premier League fixture between Bournemouth and Luton Town, abandoned after Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest, will be replayed in full, it was announced on Dec 20.
Luton captain Lockyer collapsed midway through the second half with the score at 1-1 and the game was called off soon afterwards.
The defender was discharged from hospital on Dec 20 after he had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator device fitted.
The date for the replay has yet to be decided. AFP
