adminChris Wilder already knows that Sheffield United will get ‘hurt’, Oxford United will be a mammoth task
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder faced expected difficulties last time out against Oxford United, and that could come to haunt him once again.
Sheffield United face Oxford United this weekend, where the Blades will hope to put an end to their disastrous start to the 2025/26 Championship season.
The Blades are pointless in the Championship, and Wilder was unable to put an end to that on his return to Sheffield United, having lost to Charlton Athletic at Bramall Lane.
The situation is looking dire for Wilder, but they have an opportunity to bounce back against Oxford United, who previously looked beleaguered until their surprise away win against Bristol City.
Sheffield United are desperate to get a win on the board, but Wilder knows more than anyone else that it will be a huge challenge against a team he has previously faltered against.
Chris Wilder already knows that Oxford United are a tough side to face
Sheffield United faced a trip to Oxford United in the latter stages of the 2024/25 Championship season in a game that saw the Blades’ automatic promotion chances significantly hampered.
With a 1-0 defeat, courtesy of a Siriki Dembele goal making the difference, it was clear that Sheffield United were unable to control the game against a ‘tough’ Oxford United side, as Chris Wilder had described them.
When discussing Gary Rowett’s Oxford United last season, via the club website, Wilder said: “Incredibly competitive, an experienced manager that’s gone in and won games at the start. As we all know, you have to do a lot of things right to win games of football in the Championship.
“They’ve given themselves a fighting chance, so we’re expecting their best. It is always a difficult place to go and get a result, the support is right behind them, and it will be, so we have got to turn up again.
“We’re expecting a real tough encounter, and I think one thing through experience and managing the amount of games I have, you have to do a lot of things right to get a result. If we’re off it by any way, we’ll get hurt and punished.”
Comparing the team that Wilder is set to field this time against Oxford United, he will no doubt have further worries that his side could get ‘hurt and punished’ by the U’s once again, especially after they surprised the Robins last time out.
Sheffield United record vs Oxford United
While Sheffield United fell to a defeat last time out against Oxford United, their record is generally positive against this weekend’s opposition.
The home tie against Oxford United saw Sheffield United run out as 3-0 winners, which was a fifth successive victory against the U’s for the Blades.
In the last 11 games between the two sides, Sheffield United have been victorious in nine games, with only two wins going the way of Oxford United.
With 16 overall wins compared to Oxford United’s 10, the pressure is on Sheffield United to add to that positive record at a time where goals, let alone points, are a rare commodity for the Blades
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