Blades job more difficult than I expected - Wilder

Chris Wilder has won three, and lost six, of 10 games since returning to Sheffield United for a third spell as manager in September

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has admitted he has found the job of turning the club's fortunes around harder than he had expected.

Wilder returned to the club in September, three months after being sacked and replaced by Ruben Selles.

Selles lost all six of his competitive games in charge and Wilder, who takes his side to Steel City rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday, has lost six of 10 since coming back in.

"It's been a tough period for everyone, most importantly the supporters," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I've been disappointed in the results. The performances, from a data point of view, have been pretty good.

"It's a mixed group, there are players that I have inherited and there are ones I had last season who have not produced good enough performances.

"Getting it right has been difficult. I thought it would be easier than it has been but we are working away and we will get to where we want to."

The Blades, beaten in last season's play-off final, will head to Hillsborough on Sunday in the Championship relegation zone.

Wednesday are bottom of the table on minus four points after entering administration last month.

Wilder praised the job that Owls counterpart Henrik Pedersen has done in difficult circumstances.

"The hand that Henrik was dealt was a really tough one - I've been there before at Northampton and at Halifax and I think he has got absolutely everything out of a committed group of players," he said.

"We know how dangerous this game is for us. We're not in the best league position ourselves and we'd like to be in a better one.

"We always know that everything goes out of the window with this game."