Chris Wilder Commends Team’s ’50-Point’ Milestone

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder praised his Championship-leading squad for reaching what he termed ’50 points’ ahead of the Christmas period. The team’s 2-0 victory at Cardiff on Saturday secured their three-point lead over Leeds United at the summit of the league. This result brought their total to 48 points after 22 games, a tally that would have been 50 had it not been for the two-point deduction imposed at the season’s commencement. Speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield, Wilder stated, “I told the players before [the game] we’ve got an opportunity to get to 50 points before the 23rd game of the season and we’ve got to embrace that.” He continued, “We’re in a great position but have huge challenges ahead of us – exciting challenges and to come to a ground like this and break down a team, to play with the discipline and control we had was incredibly pleasing.” Wilder also noted, “We’re getting stretched a little bit at the moment with six senior players out, but they keep doing what they do. “They play with that freedom, they play with that control and when they have to defend they’re proud of their clean sheets.” He added, “I thought we were really good good, they were dangerous on the counter-attack, so we had to get so many things right.” Sheffield United is scheduled to host third-placed Burnley in a highly anticipated Championship fixture on Boxing Day.