Long-serving defender Chris Basham admits Wilder was critical of his players in the post-match inquest at Villa Park. Basham, one of the key players in the Blades’ recent rise, says it is up to him and his colleagues to make sure that the current run of form is quickly addressed.
Chris Basham said “We’re not used to losing games. The manager hates losing games. He tells us the truth and he was disappointed with us conceding from a set-play (at Villa). It’s up to us now as players to bounce back.
Sheffield United are not accustomed, certainly in recent years, to losing runs. Under boss Chris Wilder the Blades have risen from mid-table in League One to a top half Premier League side. The speed of the transition has seen United seal two promotions and then thrive in the top flight in the space of just four years. This season however, United have been slower out of the blocks. Despite the extenuating circumstances of the Villa defeat – a controversial red card for John Egan, only a booking for Villa’s Matt Targett despite calls for a dismissal and John Lundstram missing a penalty – Basham believes the Blades’ next outing is the perfect occasion to turn it around.
Chris Basham said “It’s a derby and we’ve seen how good that Leeds have been since they came back to the Premier League. It’s a big game for us. There’s an opportunity for us to take now, in a Yorkshire derby. Obviously, I’ve been there and hopefully I can do what I did last time!”
Basham has more than fond memories of this clash. Chris Basham scores the winning goal at Elland Road in 2019. The last meeting between the pair was in March 2019. Basham scored the only goal of the game at Elland Road as United moved above their namesakes from West Yorkshire. It proved a crucial moment in the promotion chase. Basham’s goal was followed by the infamous knee-slide celebration – one of the flashpoints in a hugely enjoyable season for the Blades as they pipped Marcelo Bielsa’s side to automatic promotion.
