AliousChris Wilder remains unfazed by Sheffield United’s record against promotion rivals, despite their Boxing Day defeat to Burnley that saw them relinquish top spot to Leeds United.
Leeds capitalized on the Blades’ slip-up, comfortably defeating Stoke City to regain the Championship lead on goal difference.
All three of Sheffield United’s losses this season have come against fellow contenders—Leeds, Burnley, and Middlesbrough.
However, Wilder’s side has also secured victories against three of the other five promotion-chasing teams. Notably, they would still top the table with 50 points even if they had started the season with a two-point deficit.
After the Burnley loss, Wilder dismissed concerns over their performances against top teams.
“I’ve just answered a ridiculous question about results against teams at the top of the division,” he said. “Is there a special competition you win for beating those teams? I don’t know.
I reminded [the reporter] that if we replicate the first half of the season—which is no easy task—we could finish with close to 100 points, and that might just be enough to go up.”
He acknowledged the importance of every game but stressed there was no need for overreactions.
“Of course, we’d have liked to take points off teams around us, like Burnley today, but we’re in a good place.
No knee-jerk reactions here. We need players to return from injury and will evaluate the squad in January, as we’ve already discussed.”
Wilder also praised Burnley’s quality and game management in their narrow victory.
“There’s no disgrace in losing, especially when the team leaves everything out there, which we did.
Burnley had the moments, the ability to keep the ball late on, and the streetwise approach you need. Sometimes, you have to hold your hands up and acknowledge a tight loss to a strong team.”
Sheffield United have the chance to reclaim top spot if they avoid defeat against West Bromwich Albion in today’s early kick-off.
Leeds, meanwhile, face Derby County later in the day.
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