Chris Wilder Issues Rallying Cry Ahead of Sheffield United vs Millwall Clash

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has urged fans to get behind the team as the Blades prepare to face Millwall in a must-win Championship fixture at Bramall Lane.

Following a shock 1-0 defeat away to Oxford United – their first road loss since New Year’s Day – the Blades missed the chance to pull four points clear of third-place Leeds United. But with six games left and 83 points on the board, Chris Wilder is calling for plenty of belief and noise on Tuesday night.

Chris Wilder Urges Bramall Lane Crowd to be “At Its Best” on Tuesday Evening

In his pre-match press conference, Wilder made a passionate plea to Sheffield United supporters: “At its best Bramall Lane gives us a huge advantage and a huge boost and a huge push and huge energy. I can’t demand or force but I know what I’d be doing if I was a supporter, I’d be getting right behind this team that would be top of the division without the points deduction.”

He remarked: “I appreciate all the support we’ve had all season away from home, they’ve been outstanding and at home as well and we’ll need it on Tuesday night because we’ve got to lift the players again.”

The manager expressed his disappointment of the Oxford result, but he stressed the importance of having resilience at this crucial stage of the campaign.

He said: “They are disappointed about what happened at the weekend, we had an opportunity to break a club record (of consecutive away wins) and unfortunately, we just weren’t good enough and you know what that is just how football is and you can’t put your finger on it.”

“I’m Sure” – Sheffield United Boss Confident of A Positive Reaction Against Millwall

Despite the loss, Wilder praised the effort and spirit of his players throughout the season, pointing to their 85-point tally with six games still to play. “We all wear our heart on our sleeve: myself, the captain, and the players; they’re giving their all for the football club. This group isn’t the one from last season and I’m sure you’ll see a reaction in their performance on Tuesday night.”

In terms of team news, there are no fresh injury concerns for United. Wilder hinted at a few tweaks to the starting eleven but dismissed the idea of wholesale changes.

The Blades will need to bounce back quickly against a Millwall side that still has playoff ambitions. With only six points separating them from fifth and sixth, Alex Neil’s men come into this one off the back of a win against Portsmouth, and with a curious recent pattern of form: won, lost, won, lost, won, lost, won.

Wilder spoke fondly of the Scottish manager, stating: “I know Alex really well. He’s an experienced operator. He’s had a promotion into the Premier League and success at Championship level, so a canny operator, good manager, and they’ve got some good players. We have to get off to a better start than we did on Saturday and overcome stubborn opponents who have still got that fight in them and hope of getting into the play-offs.”

With all of the top three involved in action on Tuesday night, the Championship could yet have a few more twists as Burnley travel to relegation strugglers Derby County, and Leeds United travel to play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough.