Sheffield United are issued with a warning ahead of their trip to Burnley
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United will enter Tuesday’s match at Burnley still searching for their first win of the campaign after losing 1-0 to Everton last night, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side becoming the 10th since September to edge past them by a single goal following Gylfi Sigurdsson’s 80th minute strike.
Although Wilder insists those narrow margins should convince his squad they can still avoid relegation, he accepts more pain awaits unless United address the issues which have seen them make the joint-worst start to a season by any team in England’s leading four divisions.
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Hide Ad“You try everything as a manager,” Wilder said. “You have to accept there’s pressure in this situation because of the points tally, but there’s no magic pill. When I was playing, nobody gave one to me or anybody else at times like this.
“Seriously, you just have to keep working hard. You have to find it within yourself and that’s what the players now have to do as well. You just have to accept the responsibility to do that, against the world class players you come up against every single week.”
United finished ninth in the table last term but travel to Turf Moor with only two points to their name following draws with Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion, when they came within a whisker of securing a much-needed victory despite seeing John Lundstram sent-off during the first half. The midfielder will serve the second game of his three match ban against Burnley, while Oli Burke (back) and Oli McBurnie (shoulder) are both doubts. Jack O’Connell, Sander Berge and Kean Bryan are definitely ruled out as they continue their own recoveries from injury.
“We aren’t a team that goes from back to front,” Wilder said. “We can play. But we can’t build any momentum at the moment because we are taking poor decisions on the ball. We make it difficult for the opposition, but when it’s our turn to play, we just can’t seem to get going. That’s got to change.”