Sheffield United’s miserable run of form under Chris Wilder came at the worst possible time. Just when it seemed as though the Blades were finding their feet under the new boss, they’ve picked up just one point in their last six matches.
Now, Wilder concedes that he and his Sheffield United squad must come to terms with the current narrative surrounding their Premier League status, despite hesitating to label Saturday’s clash with fellow strugglers Luton Town as a “must-win” encounter.
The Blades gaffer stated in his pre-match press conference: “We’ve talked about this right the way through and I should imagine people do look at the table – we’ve tried not to. We’ve tried to just focus on the next game in front of us, which is Saturday against an in-form team who are doing fabulously well.”
Sitting at the bottom of the table and trailing their hosts by 10 points, Wilder’s side faces a daunting task as they visit Kenilworth Road.
The recent 5-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa dealt a severe blow to the survival hopes of both the team and their fanbase. Meanwhile, Luton Town, who also earned promotion from the Championship last season, have shown more resilience in their top-flight campaign compared to the Blades and Burnley. They possess a confidence and flair that has been lacking in Sheffield United’s performances, compounded by the passionate support of their home crowd.
The upcoming fixture against Luton will present a unique challenge for the Blades, testing their ability to match the energy and determination of their opponents in what will be a packed out Kenilworth Road on Saturday afternoon.
Previewing this weekend’s clash Wilder claimed: “I’ve been very positive towards them and everyone at that club has done a brilliant job, right through their history. They have momentum, belief and confidence. And that will make them a team that’s expected to win on Saturday.”
United suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Luton on Boxing Day, a frustrating result marked by two own goals that saw them squander a 2-1 lead. This demoralising game sparked the current downfall under the returning Chris Wilder.
