Chris Wilder questions Alphonse Areola challenge after Blades lose to Fulham

Posted Sunday, February 21, 2021 by PA

Chris Wilder bemoaned decisions going against Sheffield United but said the Premier League “won’t have to put up with us much longer” after the rock-bottom Blades’ 1-0 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Ademola Lookman broke the deadlock for the Cottagers in the 61st minute, with the home side going on to secure only their fourth win of the season.

United had a penalty shout in the final minutes of the game when home goalkeeper Alphonse Areola dived out to deny Jayden Bogle.

The goalkeeper put his body on the line and just managed to get a touch on the ball before the collision, and nothing was given but Wilder did not agree with referee Martin Atkinson or the VAR.

He said: “Where are these decisions coming from? I’m just not getting it. I’m not getting that as well because we had John Lundstram sent off (against Brighton in December), reckless.

“People talk about out of control and reckless, I’m not sure that goalkeeper was in control and knew everything about that challenge. Whether it’s committed, whether it’s desire, whether it’s brave, it is reckless, no control.

“[I’m] delighted that my young, right wing-back, who’s going to be a player, getting used to the Premier League is back on the coach with us tonight, and not somewhere else, delighted, because he could quite easily be…without even talking about whether it’s a penalty or not, or us getting that penalty and obviously us sticking that penalty away because the skipper is decent on spot-kicks and us trying to win a game of football.

“Obviously covered that point, I don’t know if there’s anything else to say, we’ve just got a long list of decisions that have gone against it, we had one that went over the line [last season] that still aggravates me and maybe I’m sure that I didn’t cause enough of a fuss but they won’t have to put up with us much longer.

“But there’ll be another promoted team that maybe comes into the division and will get the rubbish decisions, poor decisions that we are on the end of.”