Chris Wilder thinks Sheffield United will struggle to create history with their away record.
The Blades’ 1-0 win at Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend extended their unbeaten run on the road this season to nine games.
That matched the top flight record achieved by a newly promoted team. Burnley are the only other side to have not lost any of their first nine away matches, back in the 1947/48 campaign.
If United were to avoid defeat in their next away fixture, they will set a new record. However, manager Wilder is sceptical his team can achieve that.
Why? Because up next for the South Yorkshire outfit in the Premier League is a trip to reigning champions Manchester City on December 29.
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When asked if his players could make history, Wilder told the Telegraph: “Have you seen the fixture list?”
Why Sheffield United can achieve away record history
(Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Facing Man City is no easy task, of course, but Wilder’s men can go into the clash at the Etihad Stadium with some confidence.
To start with, City have already been beaten twice at home in 2019/20 – losing to both Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
They appear to be particularly susceptible to counter-attacking teams. That was how rivals Man United beat them. The Blades are efficient at soaking up pressure and then hitting opponents on the counter.
Secondly, Wilder’s side have a good record this term against those that finished in the top six last term. Of the established “big clubs”, the Blades have only lost to runaway leaders Liverpool – and that was only due to a goalkeeping error from Dean Henderson.
They have beaten Arsenal and drawn with the Red Devils at Bramall Lane. On the road they have taken a point from both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
At the beginning of the new campaign not many would have backed Wilder to get the better of Pep Guardiola. Now it doesn’t seem unlikely at all.
