Chris Wilder praises Portsmouth after Sheffield United held to goalless draw
Posted Sunday, September 29, 2024 by PA
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder praised winless Portsmouth after his side were held to a 0-0 draw at Fratton Park.
The Blades are one of two sides, along with Blackburn, yet to lose this season in the Sky Bet Championship, but could not find a way past Pompey and their goalkeeper Will Norris.
Last season’s League One champions Portsmouth are second from bottom having gathered just four points in seven matches, but Wilder does not think they will stay down there for long.
Wilder said: “It wasn’t our day and maybe we didn’t deserve it, that’s how the game goes.
“Portsmouth were good and you have to give them credit.
“If they play like that for all their home games and their away games, they will get results and they will win games.
“They will make it as difficult for other teams as they made it for us. Teams will get beaten here if Pompey play like that all season.”
Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho wants his side to maintain the level of performance.
He said of Wilder’s comments: “It is nice to hear that from such a good coach and manager. He has so much experience at this level and the level above.
“We need more of that, we need sides to come off and know they have been in a match and know it isn’t going to be easy here.
“We have spoken about that at length this week, having conceded six in our last two home games, and we need more of that from the players.
“I am really pleased we went toe-to-toe with a promotion-chasing team. If we had come away with a win no one would have been shocked, but a point was a fair result.
“I have been much more pleased with the performances in the last three weeks. This was a much more solid display.
“I hope that win is coming, we have to do a bit more than we did today. We weren’t quite good enough to get the win but it was certainly a positive.”
The Blades almost took a first-half lead through Gustavo Hamer – who had been on a two-match scoring streak – but his header from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s cross was sensationally kept out by Norris.
Hamer, Kieffer Moore and Andre Brooks also went close before Tyrese Campbell had a late low effort denied by Norris’ trailing leg.
Blades keeper Michael Cooper drew extra praise from Wilder after completing a month of clean sheets in September.
Having pushed away Paddy Lane’s low chance, Cooper’s best moment came when he had to react to parry away Marlon Pack’s inswinging free-kick on the cusp of half-time.
Wilder said: “I found out today that my goalkeeper can make some saves, as he hadn’t had to make a save yet!
“I’m being tongue in cheek, we knew he could make saves, but now he has proved it to everybody, including our coaching staff and supporters.
“He’s played a part today. We brought him in to make saves and when he is, he is playing his part.
“Everyone has to defend, it isn’t just the keeper and back four that have to stick their bodies on the line. We defend from the front.
“We want to win games and take risks, we feel we are an attacking team, so to get those four sheets gives us a great base to move on.”
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