Chris Wilder hails Sheffield United character after digging deep to beat Preston
Posted Sunday, September 23, 2018 by PA
Chris Wilder praised the character of his players after Sheffield United scored a late winner to earn a 3-2 victory over Preston at Bramall Lane.
The Blades move up to fourth in the Sky Bet Championship, while Preston dropped to the foot of the table after a five-goal thriller.
David McGoldrick grabbed a late winner for United in a standout performance which also saw him claim an assist for the game’s opener.
“I’m delighted and proud with the way we set up,” said Wilder.
“It was never dull, but the players showed tremendous character to get themselves back up off the canvas.
“Even the most ardent of Preston North End fans would say that we did more than enough in the first 60 minutes to be comfortable and out of sight. But we didn’t and respect to them as they came back and changed their shape around a bit.
“I’m delighted to get the right result, which in my opinion is a home win. We went back to the team that’s done ever so well recently and I thought we were outstanding in the first half.
“I’m delighted we got our noses in front and the swagger about us was good to see.
“I’m a pessimistic football manager and I know anything can go wrong at 2-0.
“We made a positive substitution at 2-2 and we’ve managed to win it. Not how we thought at half past four, but it would have been a travesty if we hadn’t.”
The home side were dominant for long periods and found themselves two goals up early in the second half thanks to a fifth of the season for Billy Sharp and a flicked header from a set-piece from Chris Basham.
Without an away league goal in their previous four games, Preston hit back twice in as many minutes after their two substitutions changed the complexion of the game.
Callum Robinson, who was lively for the Lilywhites throughout, tapped home before Daniel Johnson fired a deflected shot into the net for a dramatic equaliser.
Preston were denied an unlikely draw and consigned to a third defeat in a row by McGoldrick, who found space in the box to fire home three minutes from time to give his side all three points.
Preston manager Alex Neil said: “That’s been the story of the season so far. When we look like the side who’s going to win and we’ve got a foothold back into the game, we get hurt with a sucker-punch.
“But it’s about more than that. It’s about game management, experience and recognising we can still throw caution to the wind along with the hard work.
“The third goal we conceded was really poor and really frustrating because the second half performance merited something from the game.
“With the first goal they’re a bit fortunate as the ball goes through Paul Huntington’s legs, but that seems to be the story for us at the moment.
“For 35 minutes of the second half we showed what we’re capable of, but we’ve got to do it on a more consistent basis.
“We scored two goals so there is definitely a threat there, but as a team we’ve got to stop conceding as many goals as we are.”
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