Sheffield United boss given some light comic relief on otherwise bleak day after Brighton defeat

A radio reporter’s comical post-match mix-up provided five seconds of comedic respite for Sheffield United’s boss Chris Wilder yesterday on an otherwise dismal day for his team. Speaking following his team’s 5-0 loss to Brighton at home, which was primarily caused by Mason Holgate’s careless red card barely 12 minutes into the contest, was the Blades manager.

After Rhys Norrington-Davies and Max Lowe were sidelined by injury last weekend, joining Ben Brereton Diaz and Cameron Archer, manager Wilder had little cause for celebration. An amusing video of veteran local journalist Alan Biggs, a Blades columnist for The Star, getting his injured players a little confused and asking Wilder if there was “any prospect of getting Archer and Cameron Diaz back quickly?” was posted on Twitter when Biggs was on radio duty.

“Cameron Diaz?” Wilder chuckled in return. “She can perform for us up front! in that manner. You’ve given me five seconds of happiness!” Biggs followed up with a tweet: “Not been anything else to laugh about for United today so glad to cheer a few people up, including the manager (very briefly!)”

Following injuries that ended the season, two more Blades have questionable futures.

This was United’s third straight home game in which the team conceded five goals; the sequence started with a 5-2 FA Cup loss to Brighton. However, Wilder feels confident that the result would have been different had United not been reduced to 10 men against one of the greatest passing teams in the Premier League.
Regarding Holgate, Wilder remarked,

“He has apologised to the boys, he understands it and he is an experienced pro.” “He is not correct. We cannot play a passive style; I want us to be aggressive and win tackles. It’s a competitive game; it’s not a non-contact game, but Mason and we need to understand that.

“Our strategy for the entire game has taken a serious hit. I know that was a really tough test and that the game has gone on, but I feel conflicted since I am a competitor. Some players won’t want the game to continue and will demand excessive force, physical contact, or whatever term you want to use. It is considered inappropriate to challenge and win the ball in that manner. We don’t have any justifications or places to hide.