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Sheffield United have now lost their seventh game in a row in all competitions and Chris Wilder has admitted he misjudged one key aspect of the club on his return.
His replacement Ruben Selles was sacked after suffering six defeats in six, with the Blades scoring just one league goal in that time.
Wilder was subsequently reappointed at Bramall Lane, and was welcomed home to a huge tifo and a sold out home crowd on Saturday afternoon. However, opponents Charlton Athletic spoilt the party by bagging a 90th minute winner through Isaac Tanto Olaofe, leaving United feeling even more frustrated after failing to capitalise on the mood lift following Wilder’s return.
The 58-year-old gave an honest reflection on his side’s performance, and he confessed he may have been too hopeful about the state United find themselves in.
Chris Wilder confesses he was ‘too optimistic’ about Sheffield United’s situation
Wilder led Sheffield United to the Championship play-off final after winning 92 points last season. However, he has admitted he has been taken aback by the damage six losses in all competitions has done to the squad he was pushing for promotion with only four months ago.
He told the Blades’ media team: “The players are desperate to do well, those that have come to the club, haven’t come to be bottom of the division, but we are bottom of the division at the moment.
“The players I had last season and the ones that have come in, it feels damaging what has happened over the previous five games, so maybe I was too much on the optimistic side to think that we’ll be okay, but there has been a good vibe around the place since coming back in.”
Wilder continued: “The biggest thing is producing it on a Saturday when the pressure is on and we looked anxious at times and rushed, the word chaotic is a word I’d use about the second half performance, there was no sign of dominance, and we made some really poor decisions.
“I never felt in real danger, but it is about getting the balance right because we did look fragile and damaged, a result could change that attitude, but we have to get over the position we are in and man up really, accepting it is a pressure situation, and it is rightly so a demanding crowd.”
Patrick Bamford linked to Sheffield United as striker problem persists
One key issue for Sheffield United is their lack of attacking threat. Tyrese Campbell is the only man to have scored in the league this season, with Gustavo Hamer netting in the League Cup against Birmingham City.
Campbell’s only competition is Tom Cannon – who has done little to impress – and an injured Danny Ings, and aside from Hamer, the Blades lack players guaranteed to score goals. Kieffer Moore was sold to Wrexham in the summer, and United are clearly missing him.
Former Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has a spicy history with the Blades from their previous promotion battles, but Wilder poured cold water on their beef last term when he said the ex-Middlesbrough man called him to apologise for taunts he made.
Bamford is now a free agent after being judged as surplus to requirements at Elland Road and is now being linked with the Blades via The Star. He is exactly the sort of striker Wilder could need.