Manager Chris Wilder has been previewing Sheffield United’s clash against Leeds United this weekend and whilst he’s expecting a ‘lively’ affair he wants them to be the Yorkshire Puddings as we take all three points.
Hosting the side at Bramall Lane for the tie, Wilder knew it would be a tough and tasty affair especially with Leeds appointed a new gaffer in the shape of Paul Heckingbottom earlier in the week, so there will be a new manager bounce to consider as well.
Speaking to the Official Site he explained.
‘After playing the team from down the road, this is the next one we all looked for, it’s a great fixture on the calendar. It’ll be a lively game and one we’re looking forward to, if we could do a double over Leeds United that would be great, we are playing the top sides and we’re doing OK. We’ve taken four points from Derby, played well in both games against Villa and won one and lost one against the Champions elect.’
As for the test they are likely to pose, he went on to say.
‘It was a great game at Elland Road, a memorable night with a great finish to it and we hope to have a repeat come Saturday afternoon. But Leeds will have something to say about that and no doubt Paul Heckingbottom will be looking to get off to a flyer at his new club. Leeds are a massive club in this division, look at what they spent in the recent transfer window, they’ve got a lot of quality players, but haven’t got out of the division for the last few years, that’s how tough it is.’
Once Leeds is out the way, attention will turn to putting a run together that sees us get back in the Play Off battle and three points this weekend would go a long way towards that.
‘This time of the season comes around and you look at the fixtures with respect, knowing that whoever you’re playing teams have to win for differing reasons. You look at them and think they’ve got to go there, it’s difficult to get a result there, if we win this one and that one.’
Adding.
‘Teams at the bottom are fighting for their lives because of the drop and how big it is, you don’t want to be playing League One football if you’re a big Championship club. At the other end, teams like us want to try and get in the play-offs and if you are capable of stringing three or four wins together, the picture soon changes. It changed for the likes of Fulham, Villa and Preston, if you win games you put yourself right up there.’
John Fleck was also in front of the press ahead of the game and he knew it was the perfect tie to get us back on track after recent results.
‘As the manager said after Wolves, we have to click the restart button and go again. The play-offs remain the aim for us, we were well beaten at Wolves, but some of the other defeats have been very disappointing recently. They’ve gone now though, and we’re focused on a big game on Saturday. There are 16 games to go and we have to start putting wins together and see where it takes us.’
Adding.
‘Leeds have been similar to us recently and lost their manager last weekend. They’ve brought the manager in from Barnsley and I’m sure they will be all out to impress at the weekend.’
