Sheffield United’s manager, Chris Wilder, found himself embroiled in a heated exchange with Plymouth Argyle players after his team suffered a crushing 2-1 loss on Saturday.
The Blades were in control for much of the match, thanks to Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s first-half goal.
However, a late surge from Plymouth, with Ryan Hardie and Muhamed Tijani scoring in the 81st and 88th minutes, turned the game on its head.
This unexpected defeat left Sheffield United feeling the pressure as Plymouth, who had been at the bottom of the Championship, pulled off a dramatic win.
A Rough Fortnight for Sheffield United
The loss to Plymouth capped off a tough two weeks for Sheffield United.
Just two weeks ago, the team seemed to be in great shape.
After a solid 3-1 victory over high-flying Coventry on March 28, Wilder’s squad was sitting comfortably at the top of the Championship, with a three-point lead.
They appeared to be on track for an immediate return to the Premier League.
But things quickly took a downturn.
Three consecutive defeats to Oxford, Millwall, and Plymouth have now left Sheffield United five points behind Leeds and Burnley, with only four games remaining in the season.
The timing of these losses has made the situation all the more difficult for the team.
Tensions Escalate After the Game
As tensions ran high after the final whistle at Home Park, Wilder approached his players on the pitch, but the drama didn’t end there.
As Plymouth’s Darko Gyabi and Mustapha Bundu made their way down the tunnel, they appeared to celebrate in front of the Blades’ traveling fans, which did not sit well with Wilder.
While on his way off the field, Wilder was clapping to thank the supporters but then noticed Gyabi and Bundu celebrating.
He marched over to them, and the situation escalated quickly, drawing in more players from both sides.
The scene turned chaotic, with pushing and shoving in the tunnel.
Cameras caught the heated exchange, with Wilder even getting knocked around a few times before the incident was finally broken up.
Wilder Downplays the Incident
In the aftermath, Wilder downplayed the altercation when speaking to Sky Sports.
He dismissed it as nothing significant, explaining that the Plymouth players were simply celebrating a big win and that the proximity of the away fans to the tunnel led to some emotional moments.
“It’s just a bit of celebration from them, nothing really to be honest,” Wilder said.
“Emotions run high in football, especially for their boys as well because it’s a huge win for them. I’m sure if we’d won, they would have felt the same way.”
Wilder also mentioned that he had spoken with Plymouth’s manager, who was understanding of the situation.
“We both understand the situation, and so do the referee and the assessor,” he added.
Wilder Reflects on His Team’s Performance
Despite trying to downplay the incident, Wilder couldn’t hide his frustration with his team’s performance.
“We’ve given up another massive opportunity to get in touch and close the gap to Leeds United and Burnley,” he said, clearly disappointed with the team’s recent form.
“The week has been full of poor results, and we have to accept that. We’ll own it and rest on Monday, then look ahead to the next match.”
Looking Ahead to the Next Challenge
The Blades will return to action on Good Friday, with a home game against Cardiff City.
Meanwhile, Plymouth, now just three points from safety, will travel to Middlesbrough in what promises to be a crucial match for both teams as the season draws to a close.