Chris Wilder went straight down the tunnel after Sheffield United's Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood Town instead of acknowledging the travelling supporters. The Blades were eliminated from the competition by a single goal at Highbury on Wednesday, a result Wilder described as unacceptable.
He explained his decision to avoid the sold-out away end after the final whistle. "I just felt that the feeling was a very frustrated feeling by everybody on Wednesday night," Wilder said. "I just didn't think there was any gain on it." The manager, who described himself as a confrontational person, stated he has done the tunnel walk after both wins and losses in the past and felt no need for a post-match confrontation this time.
Wilder was unequivocal in his assessment of the performance and its impact on the club's fans. "Should we be putting Fleetwood to bed? One hundred per cent. Have we let the supporters down? Absolutely. And I'm really sorry regarding that," he said. He added that the team took a large following to Fleetwood but their display was not good enough, and they must accept all criticism that comes their way. The manager also stressed the need for his team to respond positively in their upcoming Premier League fixture against Newcastle United.
The victory, secured by a Rhys Norrington-Davies own goal in the 57th minute, sent Fleetwood Town into the quarter-finals where they will face Arsenal. For Fleetwood, the cup run provides a bright spot as they handle their League Two campaign. They currently sit 11th in the table with 10 points from seven games, having followed the cup win with a 3-1 league defeat at Barnet on Saturday. Their recent form shows two wins, two draws and one loss from their last five outings across all competitions.
Fleetwood manager Scott Brown praised his team's resilience and tactical discipline in securing the historic win. He highlighted the importance of the victory for the club's profile and finances, while also acknowledging the challenge of balancing cup success with league priorities. Brown confirmed the squad is dealing with a couple of minor injuries but expects a strong lineup for the next match.
Attention now turns back to the league, with a home fixture against 17th-placed Rochdale next on the schedule this Saturday. The squad will look to build on a solid defensive record that has seen them concede just seven goals in the league so far this season, details of which are available in our stats section. Meanwhile, Sheffield United must regroup quickly, with Wilder demanding a significant improvement in both application and results as they return to top-flight action.
Read the full report at thestar.co.uk
