Blades boss Chris Wilder has played down his sides chances of a high placed finish in this season’s Championship, despite their brilliant start to the campaign.

United fans will be ecstatic with the start to life back in the Championship that the team has made, with the Blades currently joint 2nd with Cardiff City. But Wilder has been quick to lower the club’s expectations, saying that avoiding relegation should be their top priority first and foremost.

Wilder’s men are just two points off table toppers Wolves, and their victory against Ipswich over the weekend prompted manager Mick McCarthy to tip the Blades as dark-horses in the Championship run in – but Wilder admits it is important to keep his team’s feet on the ground.

“Just another 26 to go and we’ll be alright,” said Wilder after the Ipswich victory.

“That should be the expectation from the supporters, because we’ve been out of this division for a long time. So to stay in it would be good.”

“We’ll set our own targets along the way, of course, but always my target is to go and win the next game.”

“So after losing at Nottingham Forest, it was about preparing ourselves right, getting the maximum out of the international break and going again.”

United came away with the 3 points, but at the cost of defender Kieron Freeman who was stretchered off with a dislocated knee. He now faces yet another spell on the sidelines, and Wilder revealed he will be assessed this week.

“He’s dislocated his knee so that’s not great,” Wilder said. “He’ll got for a scan. Our players put their bodies on the line and sometimes, these things happen. He’ll have a period out but, medically, we’ll only know how long for when the results come back.”
[Quotes via The Star]