MX23RW : Thursday, March 21 06:35:50
Mar 16, 2019 at 12.30pm UK at ​Elland Road (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
LeedsLeeds United
0-1
Sheff UtdSheffield United

Casilla (91')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Basham (71')

Wilder: Win will more than do despite being second best

Wilder: Win will more than do despite being second best
© Reuters
Blades down promotion rivals.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder reflected on a great victory rather than a great performance after overcoming Sky Bet Championship promotion rivals Leeds.

Second welcomed third to a bouncing Elland Road for an all-Yorkshire clash that could go a long way to deciding promotion to the Premier League.

Leeds were the better side on Saturday lunchtime but failed to capitalise on their chances, allowing Chris Basham to fire the Blades to a 1-0 win that saw them usurp the hosts in the table.

"Great victory, not a great performance," Sheffield United boss Wilder said.

"I've said all along I am not going to be embarrassed about winning against the run of play a little bit

"Because I think in 18 months at this football club, we've smashed some sides and not got what we've deserved.

"Half a dozen times last year, I've sat in my office thinking 'how have we not won it?' having drawn let alone lost it.

"It was a tough afternoon, a tough test for us and delighted against the run of play that we've come away with a result."

The celebrations at full-time belied Wilder's post-match comments downplaying the importance of this match in the automatic promotion race.

The Sheffield United manager repeated after that this was not a "season-defining" win but he was proud of the character epitomised by match-winner Basham.

"He's done well to be the match-winner because he was coming after 25 minutes because he was absolutely useless," Wilder said.

"I was going to do what their manager does and drag him off, but we kept him in it and I think he epitomised what a Sheffield United player is.

"He dug himself out of a hole and other players dug him out of a hole because he didn't have the greatest of halves of football.

"To come up with the winner was great for him. They're a good side, a really good side."

It was a case of what could have been for Leeds after dominating the first half and seeing Tyler Roberts hit the post with the scores still level.

Kiko Casilla was sent off late to rub salt into the hosts' wounds, with head coach Marcelo Bielsa frustrated in a post-match press conference played out to the backdrop of a fire alarm.

"I don't want to underestimate the victory of the opponent," the Leeds boss said.

"If we analyse the game, we can't be unsatisfied but we're disappointed with the result.

"If the opinion is that we deserved to draw, I have a different opinion on it.

"What happened today has happened many times in the past games.

"To explain it again after such an important loss at home with our fans, our first half hour was very good.

"We conceded the last 10 minutes of the first half but we had less quality in the second half but we dominated and we had the feeling that we were dangerous."


Click here for more stories about Chris Wilder

Click here for more stories about Leeds United

Share this article now:
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder pictured after the Steel City derby on March 4, 2019
Read Next:
Leeds clash is not season-defining, says Sheff Utd boss Wilder
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool31237170185276
2Manchester CityMan City30242479215874
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs30201957322561
4Arsenal30186663392460
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd30177658401858
6Chelsea30176750331757
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves30128103836244
8Watford30127114244-243
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham31126134146-542
10Leicester CityLeicester31125144043-341
11Everton31117134342140
12Bournemouth31115154356-1338
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3198143140-935
14Crystal Palace3096153641-533
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2996143242-1033
16Southampton3079143450-1630
17Burnley3186173559-2430
18Cardiff CityCardiff3084182757-3028
19Fulham3145222970-4117
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3135231857-3914

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account