Sheffield United

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Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has been named the EFL's Championship manager of the month for November.

The Blades were unbeaten last month, taking 16 points from their six matches and climbing to the top of the table.

It is the second time this season Wilder has won the award having also been named the division's top manager in September.

"This award is recognition for a lot of hard work from the players and the staff in the opening months of the season," Wilder told the EFL website., external

"The rebuild of the squad has been talked about numerous times, what needs to be taken into consideration is that this is a new group, providing a new dynamic, which includes the lads who were here last season. There's still a lot of work to do but the signs are good."

Sheffield United have taken four points from their opening two games of December and host Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, Burnley's Scott Parker and outgoing Millwall head coach were also nominated for the award.

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Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder said it was "amazing" for Rhian Brewster to score his first goal for more than two years in the 1-0 victory at Millwall on Tuesday night.

The 24-year-old striker's playing time has been limited due to recurring hamstring injuries and he hadn't scored since October 2022 until his winner at The Den.

"Hopefully Rhian can have a run at it and score the goals and play the part that we all know he can for our club," Wilder told the Blades Heaven podcast.

"I've talked a lot about Rhian and his personality and his character and how he doesn't want to be injured.

"He doesn't want to be on the treatment table, coming in at 8:30am and going home at 5pm and watching all his pals play football and winning games.

"So, there's been some good news stories around the club recently. The Tom Davies situation when he scored and Rhian tonight.

"He takes all the headlines to win the game at a really difficult place, especially when it's a December Wednesday night."

Wilder said the Blades "got the job done" against a Millwall side who had been on a nine-game unbeaten run until their 1-0 defeat at home by Coventry on Saturday.

"We were by no means perfect but performance sometimes suffers when you really have to dig in and get a result," Wilder added, as Sheffield United returned to the top of the table.

"This is, as always, a tough place to come and get a result. There have been plenty of teams who have not got results here, even this year and in the past, and even us as well.

"The win is important, to get that result was a big one."

You can listen to Chris Wilder's post-match interview on BBC Sounds.

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Sheffield United striker Rhian Brewster dedicated his goal against Millwall to his younger cousin, who died in the lead-up to the Blades' trip to The Den.

The 24-year-old scored his first goal in more than two years in the victory, which sent the Blades back to the top of the Championship.

Brewster paid tribute to Kaylen Dennis, who played for non-league side Walthamstow, following the Blades' 1-0 win.

"I want to dedicate that goal to my younger cousin. He passed away earlier today before the game, so that's one for him and the family," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It was a very tough time [for the family], but I played for him today, and I was very happy to come away with a goal, and that's for him.

"It's bittersweet as it happened back in London, so that one was definitely for him."

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Millwall's Neil Harris is among four bosses nominated for the Championship Manager of the Month award for November, even though he will leave the club after Saturday's match at Middlesbrough.

Harris led the Lions on a five-match unbeaten run last month from which they took nine points and conceded only three goals.

Chris Wilder's Sheffield United collected 16 points from six unbeaten games in November during which time they went top of the Championship and beat rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby.

Although they lost two of their six league games last month, Middlesbrough went goal crazy under Michael Carrick as they recorded four wins by scorelines of 4-1, 5-1, 6-2 and 3-1.

Scott Parker watched his Burnley side pick up four wins and suffer just one defeat from their six games in November.

The Clarets also only conceded one goal.

The winner of the Championship's Manager of the Month award will be announced on Friday morning.

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Millwall's 1-0 home defeat by Coventry on Saturday ended a nine-game unbeaten run.

The Lions have only lost back-to-back matches in the league once this season.

Sheffield United have the third best away record in the Championship but have only won two of their past six games on the road.

• Millwall have won three of their past four league games against Sheffield United (L1), with each of those three victories coming via a different scoreline (1-0, 2-1 & 3-2).

• Sheffield United have lost five of their past six away league games against Millwall (W1), winning their only match during that time 3-2 in September 2018.

• Millwall have won each of their past three home league games played in midweek, all 1-0 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday); the Lions haven't won four such matches in succession since October 2001 (5).

• Sheffield United have won just one of their past 18 league games against sides from London (D5 L12), conceding more than two goals in each of their past nine such fixtures.

• Millwall defender Jake Cooper has scored five goals across nine prior league meetings with Sheffield United, more goals than against any other side during his career.

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Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder praised his young players for learning on the job after earning a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns that he rated as the Blades' "best result of the season".

Despite leading after two goals in as many minutes from Callum O'Hare and Tyrese Campbell, the Blades had to settle for another draw in the Midlands following their 2-2 draw at Coventry a fortnight ago.

But the points were enough to take Wilder's men back in front of Leeds United at the top of the Championship table.

"Leeds are miles ahead of us. We have our own fight to improve individually and as a team and along the way keep picking up points. I'm not focused on anyone apart from us. But that's arguably our best result of the season," said Wilder.

"At one stage we had six under-22 players on the pitch. They're learning at the top of the division.

"This was a big test for us. Fabulous club, a great squad of players and a front four who are right up there. They were aggressive on the press and put us on the back foot from the off.

"We're missing some huge players from our own doing. But these boys keep surprising me. They will all benefit from that great experience from a big club in the division.

"We were a little bit naive at times, gung ho. I need to temper that a little bit, but what I don't want to take away is their ambition and personality to get a result.

"The chat in the week was we could swallow a defeat and it's still a great start, but I told them I'm not having any of that."

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Sheffield United make the trip to West Bromwich Albion in the Championship on Sunday (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here's a recap on the main lines from Blades boss Chris Wilder's pre-match news conference:

• Striker Rhian Brewster will return to the squad for Sunday's game.

• There is still a question mark over Kieffer Moore - however, he is expected to return for Wednesday's game against Millwall at the latest.

• He reflected on the last 12 months going from a tough Premier League season to top of the Championship table:

• On stricter refereeing: "Tackles that we made 10, 15 years ago are not getting punished to tackles that are getting punished now are [for] little things.

• "The game has massively changed - it isn't as physical, it isn't as competitive."

• On Albion: "I look at the squad and I think that is a real top Championship squad right the way through.

• "West Brom have always been a difficult team to play against. Tactically sound and difficult to break down, but got good players on the counter attack."

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When Chris Wilder took over as Sheffield United boss for a second spell at the club in December 2023, the Blades were struggling at the bottom of the Premier League with just one win to their name.

Twelve months on, Sheffield United stand top of the Championship table on a seven match unbeaten streak.

Speaking with BBC Radio Sheffield, Wilder has been reflecting on a "rollercoaster" year.

"It was a tough time and it wouldn't have been met universally, 100%, with acceptance but I felt a little bit of unfinished business," Wilder said.

"I think everyone will be delighted in our early work and, most importantly, the personality and the characteristics of what it takes to be a Sheffield United player and be a Sheffield United team, we are seeing in abundance.

"Over the year - a rollercoaster through difficult times to where hopefully everyone is enjoying the football and watching the team play."

A key aspect to the Blades change of fortune has been recruitment, with Wilder overseeing a massive overhaul in player personnel at the beginning of this Championship season.

"The team wasn't a Premier League team last year. From the off, it wasn't and it got brutally exposed," he added.

"I don't think it's been a normal 'lose a couple, bring a couple in' like the majority - if not all - of these Premier League teams go through. It was a complete rebuild."

Wilder has compared the feeling around Bramall Lane this season to 2019 when he achieved promotion to the top flight during his first stint at the club.

"There's no guarantees, there's still a lot of football to be played but it does have that feel," he said.

"From me walking down the road, walking the dog and speaking to people, I can see people have got the twinkle back in their eyes and the love of the football club back."

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Sheffield United midfielder Tom Davies has said it was like "a dream come true" to score the winning goal in the Blades' 1-0 victory over Sunderland on Friday.

Davies' strike seven minutes from time was his first for over three years, his last coming for Everton in a 5-2 home defeat to Watford who were then managed by Claudio Ranieri.

"It was an amazing feeling, something I’ve been thinking of for a very long time," Davies told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I’ve had plenty of time out to watch the games and I just wanted to get back out there - it’s like a dream come true really."

The 26-year-old missed the Blades' previous 25 matches either side of the close season with a recurring hamstring injury before returning in their win over Oxford United last Tuesday as a late substitute.

"I haven’t played much at Bramall Lane in front of the fans with the team so the support they’ve shown me, the team have shown me - the staff, the manager- it was just nice to give something back in such a big game for us.

"I’ve scored and I’m close to the goal and I’m close to the fans - it's that full elation throughout the body when you get to run off and celebrate in the way that I did.

"It was great to celebrate that with the team, they’ve been amazing with me throughout my recovery and it’s great to be back," he added.

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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

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Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is "incredibly confident" Jesurun Rak-Sakyi will stay at the club until the end of the season ahead of Friday's clash with Sunderland.

The Crystal Palace loanee has become a mainstay in Wilder's teams this season, featuring in all of the side's opening 16 Championship matches and making 11 starts.

Rak-Sakyi, who has also scored in the Blades' last two matches and provided an assist against Coventry, signed a season-long loan deal in August and Wilder shut down talk suggesting his parent club were planning on recalling him in January.

"Mark Bright [Palace's head of under-23's development] was up at the game on Tuesday, so, we’re in constant communication with him - we’re incredibly confident that Jez will be with us," Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I spoke to him [Rak-Sakyi] as well about it and he’s got his head down and wants to stay for the season."

Wilder has also confirmed Leicester City loanee Harry Souttar will stay at Bramall Lane until the end of May following rumours the Foxes were looking to recall the Australian international after head coach Steve Cooper's sacking on Sunday.

"I do believe, doing a little bit of digging, that from an appearance point of view with Harry he had to play a certain amount of games, or a certain percentage of amount of games, so he’s passed that now," Wilder added.

"He’s here for the season which is great news for us."

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Sheffield United head coach Chris Wilder has said Rhian Brewster is "really close" to returning to first-team action after missing the Blades' last four matches.

The 24-year-old striker has only started three Championship games so far this season but after picking up a knock in the win at Blackburn Rovers, he could be involved in Friday night's home clash with Sunderland.

"Rhian's really close," Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I said that on Tuesday night we have to make a really considered, sensible decision with Rhian considering his past injury record as well.

Friday's match comes too soon for Brewster's fellow forward Kieffer Moore, however, who is still unavailable due to a calf injury sustained in the match against Bristol City earlier this month.

"We don’t think Kieffer’s going to make it. He'll be one week," Wilder added.

You can listen to the full interview with Chris Wilder via BBC Sounds.

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Sheffield United midfielder Callum O'Hare's sliding goal during their 3-0 win over Oxford United is his first of the season - and he's hoping that it is just the beginning of his name making its mark on the scoresheet.

"We've been getting the results, but personally, obviously, I want to score more," O'Hare told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"Now I've got one; I can just kick on and hopefully keep scoring."

The Blades confident performance featured two assists from an excellent Gustavo Hamer for Jesuran Rak-Sakyi and Tyrese Campbell, the latter of whom scored five in their past six league matches.

The victory extends their unbeaten streak to six league games and sees them rise to the top of the Championship table, with former leaders Leeds United set to play Luton Town for a chance to regain the spot on Wednesday evening.

Bramall Lane in particular seems to be a source of great strength for the Blades, having won their past seven consecutive home games without conceding a single goal.

"We've got a top team, top coaching staff and manager, and then the fans drive us on so you can't really ask for much more, and it's obviously working," O'Hare added.

"When we play here, it kind of feels like a fortress so when we come here, you're excited, you're ready to go, and we've got to keep it going."