Friday 27 October 2017 22:27, UK
Chris Wilder was frustrated with his Sheffield United side's "average" display, despite beating Leeds 2-1 to go top of the Sky Bet Championship on Friday night.
Billy Sharp fired the Blades in front after two minutes at Elland Road, before Kalvin Phillips levelled for Leeds. But youngster David Brooks came on to net the winner with five minutes to go, to send his side top ahead of the rest of the weekend's action.
Sheffield United have enjoyed a remarkable season so far, but Wilder was still unhappy with what he perceived to be a sloppy performance from his side.
"It's the best win but not the best performance," he told Sky Sports. "I thought we were decidedly average, we can keep the ball a lot better than what we've shown tonight and I think we were off the pace. But we looked for a bit of magic from someone to produce something to decide a tight game, and the young boy has done great to come on and get us into the lead.
"I wasn't too pleased with our performance, I thought it was one of the worst we've had all season, but I've said all along our character and togetherness takes us through.
"If you've seen us for a majority of the season we've been playing some decent football, but we've made so many bad mistakes and given the ball away cheap and needlessly, which invited them onto us.
"We've said all along we want to enjoy the Championship and we want to be better, and we've slipped our standards a little bit [tonight] with the ball. But the other parts I can't complain."
Wilder also bemoaned his side for failing to take some first-half chances, particularly a couple for Sharp, that would have seen them make it a far more comfortable night.
"We should definitely be going in at half-time two or three [ahead] with the chances, but we just needed to be better," he said. "Billy [Sharp] will be disappointed he hasn't scored before half-time and we're disappointed with their goal.
"I've said we need to be good in both boxes, but usually box-to-box we're loads better than that. Maybe because it was a big game it made us a bit edgy, but we're going to have to get used to it. We're top of the division, we deserve our wins but the games are going to get bigger and we need to handle them better than tonight."
Wilder did reserve some praise for youngster Brooks, who scored his first senior goal for the club.
"He was due a goal because he's a talented boy and he can finish," said the Blades boss. "I thought he gave us a different problem for the opposition. Leon [Clarke] was outstanding tonight in leading the line for us, and Mark Duffy was good, so we changed the shape around a little bit and Brooksy as come up with the winner, which is great for him."
Wilder was also questioned about a rash challenge that Phillips made on George Baldock in the second half which could have seen the Leeds midfielder sent off, but the Blades boss was more concerned with what he deemed poor sportsmanship.
"I've said all along it's a competitive sport, but what does my nut in is when people are chucking themselves about and then chucking their hands up in the air [looking for] bookings and getting people booked," he said.
"But we have to deal with that. My team is honest, they'll take a challenge and they'll give a challenge, but this is Yorkshire on a Friday night between two committed teams in front of 35,000 people. Leeds United fans want to see their players compete and I do with mine, but it's all the other bits I'm not a fan of."
