Chris Wilder responds to concerns from Sheffield United fans over current state of the season so far

Chris Wilder responds to concerns from Sheffield United fans over the current state of the 2026/27 season so far following another defeat.

Kalvin Phillips put the Blades ahead on the 51st minute with his first league goal since 2021 , but the Potters hit back with goals from Jack McGlynn (78′) and Sam Gallagher (86′).

Following this afternoon’s action, The result sees Wilder’s side 17th in the Championship table with 9 points form 8 games played, while Stoke are up to 6th with 13 points from 8 games.

Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder said, as per Sky Sports:

“It was a tough one to take for us all. Unfortunately fine margins decide games, but I can’t fault the players because they put everything out there.

“We got our noses in front but they find two wonder goals which decided the game for them.

“When two players whack in goals from 30 yards then it’s nothing to do with our quality.

“It was a tight game, but we could have quite easily been sat here with six points from the last two games, but two wonder goals have decided it.

“To concede two goals like that one in game, well I don’t think you’ll concede two goals like that again all season.

“We have to deal with the disappointment, but the Championship is difficult, there’s no getting around that.

“But it quickly changes and now we’ve got the international break to get some players back and to improve on things.

“The players are super tight and I’m super tight with them. They’re really disappointed we’ve not got a result, but you’ve got to get through tough times like this. That’s what professional football is all about.”

🗣️ “It’s an emotional game we are all in. Are we on the right tracks? In my opinion, yes.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder responds to fans concerns about the current state of the season.

Listen: https://t.co/7hKS7GzZIU#sufc | @BBCSheffield pic.twitter.com/NCgyRZ1jZs

— Football Heaven (@footballheaven) September 19, 2026

Stoke’s Mark Robins said:

“If those goals don’t deserve to win a football match, then I don’t know what level of quality does.

“That’s testament to Sam Gallagher. For him to have worked to keep coming back from injury and disappointment, well that is just a demonstration of sheer brute force and quality that gets you a winning goal in what was a really tight game.

“The first goal was good enough, that’s Jack all over. But Sam’s goal, well that’s one of the best goals I’ve ever seen.

“We worked really hard to get back on level terms after conceding what we felt was a real giveaway (goal).

“But the support and energy in the stadium was really good – and it needed to be because after the run of fixtures we’ve had, it’s been tough for everyone.

“There’s been so many games in this period, it’s been really tough, so the players deserve an awful lot of credit.

“The start we had wasn’t brilliant, but they picked up the mantle, got some confidence going and we’ve shown we’ve got some genuine quality.

“It’s exciting (our form), that’s the emotion I feel. I’m a lot happier with where we’re at after the start we had.”

Here’s the social media reaction after Chris Wilder responds to concerns from Sheffield United fans over the current state of the season so far…

@jonathonchapma2: Bullshit, again, it’s ok to judge Selles after 4 league games but you’ve lost 4 in 5 and you get til Xmas? Make a great used car salesman

@barnesy1889: Don’t know if he knows he’s talking rubbish or not. If he’s genuinely happy with the performances there is literally no hope. Judge the season…. By what we’ve seen. What we have seen has been horrible

@cal_g_cut: Fuck off Chris on the right tracks. What losing 4 out of 5? You’ve lost it mate not the same manager as you were 2016-2021

@HARVEYW80704663: Hahaha he thinks that’s the right track. 0.4xg against stoke is the right track

@J_hanwell: Right track?? What is he on.

@AlexanderSUFC: I’m sorry but, 4 losses out of 5, we hardly ever look like scoring and our owners are doing what they’re doing. Where are these right tracks?

@BrendonDrew5: Thanks goodness for the international break. Least we won’t have to listen to the same dribble pre and post match interviews. Absoulte bore fest like on pitch. No other manager would get away with it so why should wilder.

@glavey: And there you have it. It’s not an issue that we lost, it’s the total drivel performances/style of play and horrific tactics. And he thinks last two games we’ve been good and we’re on the right track? Absolutely deluded #twitterblades

@TigerDriver31: He’s having us on. I know we’re a fickle old bunch and he was a welcome return after Selles but let’s be honest. He cost us automatic places in 2024, he lost us the playoff final and since returning he’s done nothing but moan about the squad not being his. What’s next?

@Cholsey12: He doesn’t get it. It’s not about being in the top 2 or 3 at this stage of the season (which would be nice of course), it’s about the inability of his team to put in (half) decent performances that would give the fans some belief that we are improving.

@ijparkes: Nobody expects us to be top 2 or 3 mate, we just expect us to not get out played and out created in every single game then get told that we played ok. People aren’t negative, they just have eyes #twitterblades

@dembladeskris: When does season get judged 😅🤣 weve hoofed it for 90 mins today hoping something will drop & bearly put 5 passes together in same week we got out ran & fought by league 2 Fleetwood, speak about our club not everyone else’s when we’ve been awful for long time now

@JasonKinder38: Makes me feel sick listening to him, think we all know, and him how this ends.

Right track? https://t.co/n5avxUxFTV pic.twitter.com/HXHm1V9gtG

— Jonzy (@Jonzysufc) September 19, 2026