'We will not forget Baldock' - Sheff Utd boss Wilder

Sheffield United midfielders Sydie Peck (left) and Gus Hamer held a shirt dedicated to George Baldock aloft after the full-time whistle

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder said former defender George Baldock would not be forgotten after the team celebrated their derby win over rivals Sheffield Wednesday with a shirt emblazoned with his name and number on it.

Baldock was found dead in a swimming pool at his home in Glyfada, southern Athens, in October at the age of 31.

The Greece international spent seven seasons with the Blades and twice helped them win promotion to the Premier League before leaving for Panathinaikos last summer.

"We've been through a lot this season. From the changes of the ownership to the struggles pre-season and the minus two points and all the other things and then the tragic death of an incredible player and culture carrier," Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield after Sunday's 1-0 win.

"We all knew his journey. When you talk about Chris Basham, Billy Sharp, David McGoldrick, Oli McBurnie, Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye he's right up there because of what he was about.

"I remember when he came here in the 4-2 [win over Sheffield Wednesday in September 2017] and he was absolutely outstanding.

"He would have loved today, it would have been right down his street.

"We recognise him and he is not forgotten. We have his shirt up in every home game and every away game and he is there with us... We wish he was still here."

From 'pub league' to another Premier League promotion push

Sunday's 1-0 win extended Wilder's own unbeaten record as Blades boss against the Owls to six games and also moved them back up to second in the Championship.

After the match Wilder looked back at how much things had changed since he took over for his first spell in charge in May 2016.

United were a League One side and Wednesday had just missed out on promotion to the Premier League in the Championship play-off final when Wilder was appointed at Bramall Lane.

The Blades went up from the third tier to the top flight in his first spell and are now looking to win promotion to the Premier League for the third time in six years.

"It feels good. I talked to the players before how we were ridiculed for being in League One, a pub league and all that since I took over in 2016," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I wanted to adjust the narrative that we weren't a pub league side and all of a sudden it changes and now we're a rival. It changes, we're now 31 points above them [Wilder's side are 29 points above the Owls but started the season on minus two for defaulting on payments to other clubs in 2022-23]."

He added: "To do the double over our rivals was always going to be a good day.

"We knew everything that was coming. We had the welcoming committee in the car park. It was the game that we thought it would be."