- Sheffield United suffered a 2-1 defeat by Plymouth Argyle after two late goals
- The Blades have now lost three games in a row at the worst possible time
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Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder clashed with Plymouth Argyle players following his side’s damaging 2-1 defeat on Saturday.
The Blades had been leading for much of the game after Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s first half opener but goals from Ryan Hardie and Muhamed Tijani in the 81st and 88th minute respectively secured a dramatic victory for Plymouth, who sit bottom of the Championship.
It capped what has been a dismal fortnight for the Blades. After their 3-1 victory over the in-form Coventry on March 28, Wilder’s men were three points clear at the top of the second tier and primed for an instant return to the Premier League.
However, three successive defeats at the worst possible time to Oxford, Millwall and Plymouth have left Sheffield United five points adrift of Leeds and Burnley with four games to go.
And in the aftermath of their defeat at Home Park – which saw Wilder address his players on the pitch – tensions boiled over.
As Plymouth’s Darko Gyabi and Mustapha Bundu went to head down the tunnel, they appeared to celebrate in front of the travelling Blades fans.
Chris Wilder clashed with Plymouth Argyle players after Sheffield United’s late 2-1 defeat
As Wilder headed off the pitch, he saw Plymouth players Darko Gyabi and Mustapha Bundu celebrating their dramatic and crucial victory in front of the travelling Blades fans
Wilder approached the pair after marching over and said something to both Gyabi and Bundu
Wilder was on his way off clapping his supporters but then looked back and saw Gyabi and Bundu.
He subsequently took issue with them and marched over to the the pair before he said something. This caused further players to get involved as both sides entered the tunnel.
Cameras focused in on the incident as there was plenty of pushing and shoving from both sets of players, with Wilder appearing to get knocked about on a couple of occasions before he went out of sight.
However, speaking after the game, Wilder played down the incident when asked by Sky Sports.
‘Yeah nothing really, absolutely nothing really,’ he said. ‘They’re celebrating a big win and they’re coming off and unfortuantely our supporters are in the stand right next to the tunnel so yeah… get everybody in.
‘I spoke to their manager and he was as good as gold, understands the situation as much as I do and the referee and the assessor (do as well).
‘So, emotions run high in a game of football, especially for their boys as well because it’s a huge win for them.
‘I’m sure if we’d have won today, then it would’ve made it double difficult for them to stay in the division so they’ve given themselves a fighting chance in staying up.’
After Wilder’s intervention, several players from both sides then got involved in a scuffle
As they headed down the tunnel, Wilder appeared to be pushed as the clash continued
Muhamed Tijani’s late strike helped secure a dramatic victory for Plymouth on Saturday
Wilder had addressed his players on the pitch after the damaging defeat, their third in a row
Wilder also went onto bemoan his side’s performance as their late season collapse continued.
‘We’ve given up another massive opportunity to get in touch and close the gap to Leeds United and Burnley,’ he added.
‘So yeah we’re not in a great position because of a week full of poor results and we have to accept that and we have to own that.
‘And we certainly will and rest Monday and go and try and get another result on Friday.’
The Blades return to action on Good Friday with a home game against Cardiff City, while Plymouth – who are now just three points off safety – travel to Middlesbrough.
