Chris Wilder confident Sheffield United will have eyes only for Bristol City despite looming derby

Chris Wilder confident Sheffield United will have eyes only for Bristol City despite looming derby

Chris Wilder is certain that none of Sheffield United’s players will be focused on Sunday when they play at Ashton
Gate on Tuesday night.

This Saturday, Bramall Lane hosts the first Steel City derby since the goalless Championship tie at Hillsborough in

March 2019.

However, both parties have games to discuss on Tuesday first.

Bristol City has an unbeaten streak of eight matches and may easily defeat their opponents provided they remain

focused on the task at hand. It was a message Wilder instilled in his players during Sunday’s team meeting.

When asked if there was any risk of a player losing one eye on Sunday, Wilder assured: “They won’t.

“That was the message that went into the players in our meeting.

NO LETTING UP: Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder
NO LETTING UP: Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder

“You can’t get away from Sunday, you can’t ignore it, the noise has already started quite a while ago.

“It’s another crucial game, and we want another three points and a solid performance.

“What is built into that (mindset) are the voices of the (Harry) Souttars, (Jack) Robinsons, and Kieffer Moores, who

have had success at this level, have gotten out of the division, and understand that the next game is the most

important.”

“Based on my and the coaches’ experiences, we are never a shortcut or complacent squad. I’m not sure if it’s just my

pessimism, but if we don’t do it, we’ll be replaced, therefore we have to do it. If we are, we have a strong probability

of obtaining a result.”

The Blades have an injury doubt over Rhian Brewster.

“He got a bang to his thigh,” Wilder added. “It’s not a hamstring injury which was the biggest fear straight away

because of his history with that part of his body.”

Fellow striker Tyrese Campbell is pushing for a start after scoring in the last two games, but with Wilder highly

protective of Kieffer Moore, who scored at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, Campbell would have to play alongside the

Welshman rather than in place of him.

“We’re after perfection, but you have to be realistic about the situation we’re in as a football club and the players that

are coming in,” Wilder said when questioned about Moore’s misgivings.

“On Saturday afternoon, I received a message from TC (Tony Currie), a very good example of someone who knows

the game, has played at the top level, and is our finest player of all time: ‘How fantastic was Kieffer Moore? I would

have like to play with him. It gets into him, it sticks, and there’s an escape for us. That is not a horrible

recommendation.

“I suppose the number of naysayers is decreasing. I understand when individuals don’t score, and occasionally his

touch is a little off, but players make mistakes; they’re not flawless, and neither are we. But we’re striving to get close

enough to make everyone smile.

“We do not need convincing. All he needs to do is keep his head down and continue.

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