• yesterday
Chris Wilder dissects Sheffield United's victory over Cardiff City and their remarkable points tally going into Christmas, speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield
Transcript
00:00With the second call it looked like Kiefer was just about to come off, he did come off after it, but he sniffed an opportunity didn't he and stayed on brilliantly.
00:07No, I knew that he would take a touch and not pass it to Rhian when he should have done or not pass it to Cal if he should have done so he'd have got a bit of a rocket if it had not gone in but he took the responsibility on and found the bottom corner to the delight of everybody.
00:24It was a big day for him because I know how much he enjoyed it here and he didn't leave on great terms but goals will do him a world of good, confidence, but contributions right the way through.
00:36To keep another clean sheet is outstanding, I don't think Koops has really had anything to do, maybe a shot from Callum Robinson late on where he just palmed around the post which I would have expected him to.
00:48Yet again desire to keep a clean sheet and desire to go on and win a game of football. I've told the players we're on 47 points before, we've got an opportunity to get into 50 points before the 23rd game of the season and we've got to embrace that.
01:04We're in the game to play under pressure, I put them under that pressure, we have to get the balance right but they have to recognise if they want to be successful and have a successful career then when you have to turn up every Saturday or whatever weird and wonderful day we play on you've got to produce a performance and we can't afford to have any days off.
01:28We might get, as I said to you guys in midweek, we might lose a game but we don't lose a game because we're complacent or arrogant or we try and shortcut it. We weren't arrogant today, we weren't complacent, we didn't shortcut it and we got our rewards and we're getting our rewards right the way through.
01:4450 points already acquired this season, number one at Christmas, it's been a good season so far hasn't it? A lot of work still to do?
01:51Absolutely and no doubt everybody like they do picks pieces out of my interview and will say what they want. I've been in the game long enough, I've managed over a thousand games, nothing's won on December 25th.
02:07We're in a great position, we've got huge challenges ahead of us but exciting challenges that I want the players to embrace and I want the supporters to embrace. Yet again, Jamal Baptiste coming onto the pitch again, Sidney Plek playing, young players out there.
02:22We're a little bit stretched at the moment, no Vinny, no Anel, no Shaqs, no Tyrese, no Femi and no Blaster as well so we're stretched. Not a lot of them are self-inflicted, they're unlucky injuries but getting them back will be good for everybody.
02:45In the meantime, if we can continue to produce what we're producing, it's an excellent effort by everybody. Excellent effort from the supporters just before Christmas, three or four days before Christmas Day to come out here and they backed us unbelievably right the way through. An outstanding effort from them so safe journey back for them and let's look forward to a crackerjack of a game on Boxing Day.
03:09Are you likely to get any of those players back?
03:11Yes, I'm not going to tell you or let you into who is back but we will have players back.
03:18It just shows it doesn't it, you've referenced it a couple of times with the amount of youngsters on the bench today, just a bit more on Jamal Baptiste, he's not been at the club long but to get his debut for the club so soon, got a big block in as well.
03:30We've got the confidence to stick him on, a couple of the boys, Robbo came off through illness, Tom Davis was not great before the game, there's three or four there that weren't feeling great but we're willing to stick their hand up and play so hopefully that doesn't go unnoticed by everybody in terms of the commitment and what they've prepared to do.
03:49Marshy on the bench, Louis Marshy on the bench, Brooksy on the bench, Jamal on the bench, so a pretty young group that we've got but I imagine they're enjoying it as well as much as I'm enjoying watching them enjoying it.

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