Sheffield United travel to the south coast on Wednesday evening to take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park, with Chris Wilder’s side looking to build on their impressive 3-0 victory over Lincoln City at the weekend.
The Blades returned from the international break under pressure to deliver a positive result after suffering three consecutive defeats in all competitions against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fleetwood Town and Stoke City.
However, United responded in convincing fashion at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon, producing one of their strongest performances of the season so far to claim all three points against the newly promoted Imps.
Patrick Bamford was the star of the show, finding the net twice to help the Blades establish control, while Tahith Chong also got himself on the scoresheet with his first goal for the club. The result was a welcome boost for Wilder and his players, but the challenge now is to replicate that performance away from home against a Portsmouth side that will be desperate to respond following their derby defeat to Southampton.
Femi Seriki is expected to return to the matchday squad in the near future, although Wednesday’s trip to Portsmouth comes too soon for the young defender. Ryan Oné was among the substitutes against Lincoln, providing another option for Wilder as he considers his attacking alternatives.
There remains uncertainty surrounding Kalvin Phillips, who missed Saturday’s victory as he continues to struggle for consistent fitness and availability.
With three fixtures scheduled across the week, Wilder could make a couple of changes at Fratton Park to ensure his squad remains fresh. Nevertheless, the Sheffield United manager will be keen to avoid disrupting the rhythm established against Lincoln.
Chris Wilder Reflects on Win Against Lincoln City
Sheffield United winger Tahith Chong in action for the Blades against Lincoln City at Bramall Lane. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).
Speaking in his pre-match press conference after the weekend victory, Wilder made it clear that consistency must now become the priority.
“We need to get some momentum going, we need to show consistency. It’s been a slow start, an up and down start individually and team performance,” he explained.
“I thought collectively we had some really good performances on Saturday afternoon. Simplistically, I’ve got to get it right, the coaches have [to get it right] in game plans and preparation, and players have got to go and execute game plans and play to their potential. I think everybody did that [against Lincoln City].
Wilder also praised the impact of his substitutions against Lincoln, suggesting that the strength of his options is improving and allowing him to make changes without significantly weakening the team. “The squad looked stronger, the changes that we made allowed us to not drop the standard,” he added.
“No disrespect to other times where we try to get through games and whatever, but you know we made some strong substitutions as well, and I’ve got to say the body language of the team was outstanding.”
Wilder Expects Hostile Atmosphere at Fratton Park
Wilder is under no illusions about the challenge awaiting his side on the south coast, warning his players that Portsmouth will be determined to produce a response after their defeat to Southampton.
The Sheffield United manager expects a difficult atmosphere and has urged his squad to prepare for the best version of their opponents. “Always an intimidating, hostile ground in the right way and as you would want it to be. They make it uncomfortable for the opposition,” Wilder said.
“They’ll be a touch disappointed that they didn’t get something out of the game on Sunday afternoon in the local derby [against Southampton], so the message to the players is expect; expect their best performance.”
“They’ve got some good technical players, they made some good signings in the summer so they’ll want to get their season up and running again after a disappointing Sunday afternoon at Southampton.”
The victory at home against Lincoln City has restored some confidence, but Wilder will know that one result cannot erase the concerns raised by the team’s inconsistent opening to the campaign, and he’ll be delighted if Sheffield United can travel back to South Yorkshire with points in the bag.