Sheff Utd finally show their fighting spirit
MOLINEUX STADIUM — When Chris Wilder was appointed for the second time as Sheffield United manager, he used a boxing analogy to urge his new players to fight for their Premier League lives.
“It’s not about smashing people all over the place and getting booked or sent off,” Wilder said. “It’s about asking questions physically. If you sit on the ropes for four or five rounds then someone is going to land on you. You’ve got to swing some punches as well.”
When Wilder spoke of throwing punches, I’m not exactly sure that he meant this. In the aftermath of Wolves’ winning goal at Molineux on Sunday, Vinicius Souza and Jack Robinson came to blows in Sheffield United’s half. Robinson was clearly angry at Souza’s lack of effort in tracking back and did not hide his frustration. Souza took offence and the pair seemed to have a brief scuffle.
No manager wants to see players on the same team risking both getting sent off for fighting with each other, but you suspect that Wilder may treat it with a wry smile. Far too much of Sheffield United’s miserable season seems to have been acquiesced by a group of players who probably aren’t up to the task but have rolled over for opponent after opponent. Anger is better than acceptance, of that Wilder will be sure.
This was far better from Wilder’s team. They lost again, and so we must beware of patronising them because that is worse than censure. But there was greater resilience defensively even if Pedro Neto got free more than once. They slowed the game down at restarts and Auston Trusty was one of the game’s best players.
More importantly, given Sheffield United’s miserable attacking numbers this season, they also broke at pace in the first half. Twice James McAtee should have done better when in the penalty area. Twice too they wasted two-on-one breaks after Wolves had overcommitted players forward.
In the second half, that plan shifted to more direct football and the use of attacking set pieces. A series of long throw-ins caused problems. Sheffield United rarely won the first header, but then looked to feed off the resultant scraps while Wolves panicked and Molineux matched that same mood.
These are baby steps that come far too late, but Sheffield United had more shots on target than their opponents for the third time in their last six Premier League games. Signs of fight on the pitch, in more ways than one. Wilder will be pleased to see some backbone, if not the fists.
For Wolves and Gary O’Neil, proof that ugly wins are worth as much as pretty ones. For all their progress under O’Neil this season – this win took them up to the heady heights of eighth to ignite ludicrous, but not unfounded, dreams of European qualification – Wolves have repeatedly struggled in fixtures against supposedly weaker sides who have been happy to sacrifice possession, play on the counter and use set pieces.
Wolves lost 2-1 at Bramall Lane. They drew 1-1 at Kenilworth Road. They drew at home to Nottingham Forest and lost at home to Brentford. They lost at Fulham and Crystal Palace by identical 3-2 scorelines. On Sunday, they creaked and looked like they might crumble under Sheffield United’s second-half aerial attack.
Player of the Match – Mario Lemina
- The customary defensive work, but Lemina also sprung three counter-attacks. He’s become Wolves’ midfield everyman
During these moments, it is as if Wolves supporters can’t quite believe all of this – the gentler season that any could imagine, the surge up the bottom half, the move to the top eight – is sustainable. As Wolves looked to pass out from the back, they grumbled and groaned. It’s as if one goal conceded through losing possession and the whole house of cards tumbles to the floor.
That is why O’Neil was so happy in his post-match interview. It was gutsy and at times it was grim. He recognised the frustration of supporters but knows that by holding on in these types of games he begins to persuade them to keep the faith. You have to prove that you can win every which way you need to, by running over Tottenham Hotspur and by standing tall when Sheffield United throw punches at you and each other.
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