Sheffield United continued their impressive defensive form with a narrow 1-0 victory over Swansea City on Wednesday evening, marking their fifth consecutive clean sheet in the league. The result not only gave the Blades another three points at Bramall Lane but also propelled them to third place in the league standings, putting them firmly in the promotion race.
The game, however, was far from a spectacle in the opening half. Swansea’s disciplined approach made life difficult for United, with both teams cancelling each other out. But the breakthrough came just before halftime, though, when Harrison Burrows delivered a dangerous arching cross from the left. Swansea’s Josh Tymon, in his attempt to clear, inadvertently directed the ball into his own net, gifting United a crucial lead.
After the goal, United held firm against a determined Swansea side that pushed for an equaliser but found little joy breaking through the Blades’ resolute defence. Ultimately, Tymon’s own goal proved to be the deciding factor, as the Blades secured their third 1-0 win of the season.
After the game, Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder shared his thoughts, on SUTV, on the team’s recent form and their defensive solidity, highlighting the balance the team aims to strike between attacking football and defensive resilience.
Chris Wilder’s reaction after Sheffield United see out victory over Swansea City
“We’re not a defensive side, we’re not set up to just sit in and play counterattack football,” Wilder explained. “We want to be good on the ball, create opportunities, dominate possession. We want our xG (expected goals) to be better, but it’s about getting both parts of the game right.”
Wilder emphasised the importance of clean sheets as a foundation for success, noting the skill and mindset required to defend effectively. “Keeping the ball out the back of the net, whether it’s a structure or an attitude, is an art and a skill as much as it is to create and score.”
Another clean sheet means the Blades have kept five clean sheets in a row for the first time since February of 2022.
Wilder also gave credit to Swansea City, acknowledging their unique style of play and the tactical challenges they posed. “You’ve got to give credit to Swansea, they were a really difficult team to play against,” he said. “We had to be patient in our approach, aggressive when committing to the press, and improve on the ball after the first half.”
Despite a somewhat sluggish start, Wilder’s halftime team talk helped shift the momentum. “We weren’t good with the ball in the first half: too much sideways and backwards,” he admitted. “But we changed that around and got a little bit more positive, and that helped us see the game out.”
While the victory was not as comfortable as Wilder might have liked, he was pleased with the team’s attitude and progress. “A win is a win,” he remarked. “We’re ticking along nicely. There’s a humility about the players, and while we know we can be better, especially in the first half, they [the players] deserve the win.”
