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It is another big game, another big scalp for Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United following a thrilling draw with Man United at Bramall lane.
Back in the Premier league after a long time, three-at-the-back, fearless and entertaining: the Blades bear a staunch similarity to Wolves in 2018/19.
Much like Nuno Espírito Santo’s charges, Wilder’s newbies have earned admiration from the Premier League’s global audience by upsetting the big boys.
Unbeaten in five games prior to hosting United, Sheffield rattled the Red Devils in a clichéd game of two halves.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men could not cope with Sheffield’s crisp passing, switching of play and devastating counter-attacking earlier on; recording their highest possession this season in that opening period that saw United fail to register a shot on target.
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| McBurnie scoring past David de Gea for the equalizer. (AFP via Getty Images) |
The confidence on the ball and togetherness in the Sheffield squad is pertinent in the belief in their philosophy. Wilder deserves huge credit for getting the best out of players who were playing in the third tier only three years ago.
The belief that they belong right with the big boys would have soared after grabbing a deserved late equalizer despite United’s rally from two goals down.
Oli McBurnie’s leveller also made Sheffield the first newly-promoted side to score three in a League game against United since Leicester in 2014.
That makes it three draws and one win against five of last season’s top six, with the only loss down to a goalkeeping error against Liverpool.
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| Lys Mousset -who is enjoying a new lease of life at Sheffield- hits his side’s second. (REUTERS) |
Not only are the Blades cutting up the big boys like Wolves last season, they are doing so with gusto.
Chris wilder’s three-man defensive system plays a unique brand of attacking football. With overlapping Centre backs creating overloads in wide areas and midfielders making runs into the box.
Defensively assured as much as they attack, Wilder’s men impressively deny opponents space between the lines.
With goalkeeper Simon Moore having had little to do in the first half of his Premier League debut against United. It is little surprise that theirs is the third-best defence this season after Leicester and Liverpool.
In truth, Solskjaer admitted they “wanted it more” as Wilder’s men thoroughly deserved something despite United’s fightback.
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| John Lundstram has also played across England’s four divisions and is one of Sheffield’s players of the season. (Simon Bellis/Sportimage) |
This is testament to the hunger and togetherness of Sheffield led by childhood fan and ex-Blades player Chris Wilder.
Sheffield United have gone about announcing their arrival to the Premier League by mixing it up with the super clubs, deservedly sitting sixth on the log.
Safe to call Wilder’s men this season’s Wolves, perhaps even more.
Meanwhile, Who better to play this weekend than Wolves away?
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