"I am not sure why" - Revealed: What Don Goodman thinks of Sheffield United, Chris Wilder sack theory | OneFootball

Sky Sports pundit Goodman has issued his verdict on Blades boss Wilder facing calls for the sack if they do not go up this season

Former footballer and current Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has urged Sheffield United fans to stick with Chris Wilder and praised his efforts as Blades boss amid some calls on social media that he should be sacked if they do not win promotion through the play-offs this month.

The Blades kept pace with the top two throughout the season but fell away at the vital moment over the last few months, and are now preparing for their first play-off semi-final clash against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Thursday evening.

Many neutrals tipped Wilder's side to struggle this season, following a dismal Premier League campaign in which they were relegated with a record 101 goals conceded. They have been able to bounce back well after busy summer and January windows, but both Leeds United and Burnley were just that bit better, hence their third-place finish.

Don Goodman issues 'really strange' verdict amid Chris Wilder criticism

Wilder is a bonafide Blades legend, having spent two spells at the club as a player and also managing them on two separate occasions. His first stint as boss saw him take the club from League One to the Premier League in three years, from 2016 to 2019, and he also led them to a first top-half finish in the top-flight in 28 years in 2020.

He left his post in 2021, and struggled in charge of Middlesbrough and Watford, but returned in December 2023 and is still in place as boss at Bramall Lane today as United look to return to the Premier League.

The Blades have failed to win automatic promotion this term, but are still in with a real chance of going up if they can finally break their play-off hoodoo, with the club having never gone up that way in any of their eight past attempts.

Sky Sports co-commentator and former footballer Don Goodman has hit out at criticism of Wilder on social media, and has praised the 57-year-old for his efforts in getting the club to third place this season after a tough time in the Premier League.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman said: “I’m not sure why, but Chris Wilder doesn’t appear to be getting the credit that he deserves for this season’s efforts, really.

“90 points, add the two on, 92 points in the Championship, but unfortunately for him and Sheffield United, Leeds United and Burnley were even better than that.

“When you think of the rebuild last summer, I think Sheffield United ended up being the fourth-youngest team in the Championship.

“He changed the style, he picked them up after a disastrous campaign in the Premier League, where the confidence must have been on the floor, and he lifted them and took them close to automatic promotion.

“I would say it is very, very harsh criticism. I’m not on social media, but if some Blades fans are suggesting he should be sacked, I just find that really strange, if I’m honest.”

Wilder has backed his United players to finally get the job done in the play-offs

Despite finishing 14 points ahead of fourth-place Sunderland and 22 points ahead of their upcoming opponents Bristol City, Blades supporters have every right to be wary of their chances of promotion through the lottery of the play-offs based on the club's record in past games either under Wilder or before he was in charge.

Their most recent failure at this stage was under the 57-year-old in 2022, as they lost out on penalties to Nottingham Forest in the semi-final second-leg, with the Reds then going on to win promotion to the top-flight.

They also suffered play-off heartbreak on three separate occasions while in League One, falling at the final hurdle in 2012, and also losing in the semi-finals in 2013 and 2015 before Wilder eventually guided them to promotion as champions in 2017.

United head into their semi-final first-leg tie against the Robins in patchy form, with just two wins in their final seven regular-season outings, but despite undoubtedly being prepared for criticism and potentially the sack if they do not go up this month, Wilder has backed his players to do the job and return to the Premier League.

"I’d rather be sat on the beach having achieved something, but I had a taste of it in 2010 and people always talk about it being the best way to go up. But we've got two unbelievably tough games before we can even start to think about that," he told the Sheffield Star this week.

"I've got too much respect for the game and the opposition to think that this is going to be straightforward, because it isn't. We've got to deal with two difficult games against a talented group of players who we've seen here at Bramall Lane, and played two tight games against this season. And I am expecting this to be no different over the next four or five days.

"We're going there to try and get a win and if they need a win coming up the road, then they'll be trying to do that as well. There’ll be no negative approach. We believe we can compete with any team in the division, and our away record has been outstanding."

United need to seal promotion this time around, as they could face an exodus of their key players in the summer if they are still in the Championship ahead of next season.

Wilder will no doubt face backlash if they do not go up, but the majority of Blades fans will surely back him to do the job despite the club's poor play-off record in recent years.

He has already got the club promoted twice before, and his players are more than good enough to win promotion this time if they play to the best of their abilities in the three play-off games that they could take part in this month.