‘Smashing everybody’ – Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder gives Leeds United promotion verdict
The Sheffield United boss has made a telling admission about Leeds United
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder says Leeds United deserve the title of promotion favourites, but has played down this month’s forthcoming fixture between the two clubs at Bramall Lane.
The Blades beat Middlesbrough 3-1 on Wednesday evening to go back within two points of league leaders Leeds, who had opened up a five point gap to second place following Tuesday’s 4-0 riot at Watford.
They had also gone eight points clear of Burnley in third but the Clarets recorded a 2-0 win over Hull City to cut United’s distance back down to five points. Leeds have not lost in the league since November and have not conceded in a Championship match for more than a month.
As a result, many are framing United as the club most likely to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League. Speaking after his team’s win over Middlesbrough, Wilder heaped praise on the table-toppers and said Daniel Farke’s squad deserves the plaudits they are getting.
“Leeds are the talked-about team and rightly so,” he said. “They’re a fabulous group of players and are well-coached, smashing everybody here, there and everywhere. They’re everybody’s tip to win it.
“From my point of view, I’d say the same. But we want to make it interesting and hopefully we will do so in terms of collecting the points and producing those performances.”
Leeds next play Sunderland at home on Monday before the crunch visit to Sheffield United a week later, on February 24, in what will be branded as a six-pointer. Wilder is hesitant to reciprocate such talk, though.
“The Leeds United game will take care of itself. It won’t define our season,” he insisted. “We have to make sure we’re bang at it in the next couple of days and come away with a positive result on Saturday (vs Luton Town).”
