A late Ched Evans goal in yesterday’s clash between Maritimo and Sheffield United at the Estadio Municipal da Bela Vista what exactly what manager Chris Wilder had ordered in his pre-game team talk.
🎥 NEW KIT | Here’s the players emerging ahead of kick off tonight #twitterblades #sufc #ForgedAsOne pic.twitter.com/C32lC4NiWj
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) July 12, 2018
The game took place whilst we continue preparations for the coming 2018/19 Championship out in the Algarve and whilst it wasn’t a goal fest, an estimated 850 travelled Blades saw the team take victory.
United created plenty of chances, especially in the first half but were wasteful and Wilder will no doubt have been pleased with our approach play, but he will want a far more clinical edge from the side as pre-season progresses.
At this stage though, it remains about fitness more than anything else and increased sharpness should naturally follow, so he won’t be overly worried on that score in my humble. Apparently, the second half got a little bit tasty in terms of tackles and yellow cards were shown but I can’t find greater details at the moment. Nowt wrong with that though, if it wasn’t a training game and it was a little bit feisty that’s only going to help on the fitness front and in getting the competitive juices flowing again.
📽️ Chris Wilder's reaction to the pre-season victory over @MaritimoMadeira 🇵🇹⚔️🌞 #twitterblades #sufc #ForgedAsOne pic.twitter.com/YmuqG4Oe09
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) July 12, 2018
Blades: Henderson, Baldock (Freeman 45), Basham, Stearman, O’Connell, Lafferty (Stevens 45), L Evans (Leonard 45), Fleck (Duffy), Holmes (Slater 54), Clarke (Lavery 45), Sharp (C Evans).
Unused: Eastwood, Norrington-Davies.
Ahead of the game, the Star have Wilder confirming that a defender is now a priority this window as 32-year-old Jake Wright could be out for around six weeks having sustained an injury around his cheekbone. Few details were given but he underwent an operation prior to the game.