Dazed Sheff Utd left to reflect after wild Leeds fightback

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Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder might have been excused for being at a loss for words after his team's heartbreaking late loss to championship competitors Leeds on Monday.

However, by the time he entered the press room following the match, he was already in a contemplative state.

Wilder acknowledged that they could have performed better regarding Leeds' first two goals but expressed pride in how his team approached the match against the now-promoted side.

"I don't aim to be a gracious loser, but at times you have to accept the defeat," he remarked.

"We were a bit careless in our turnovers. Matches hinge on those moments of quality.

"I believe most of our fans would have accepted a draw after 89 minutes, but a match doesn't conclude after 89 minutes. We needed to manage the set-piece situation much more effectively."

Up until the last few moments, it seemed like a draw was the least his team would earn. With 20 minutes remaining, they were ahead of their West Yorkshire opponents at the top of the league, but just moments later, following Joel Piroe's third goal for Leeds, they found themselves five points behind.

These are the fine lines that define such matches, yet few managers comprehend this better than Wilder, who has experienced promotion with his local club twice during his initial tenure at Bramall Lane.

The upcoming match against Queens Park Rangers suddenly holds more significance as they aim to swiftly move past the disappointing conclusion of this game. Additionally, their encounter with third-placed Burnley, now only two points behind, on Easter Monday could very well determine who secures a straightforward finish by the first weekend in May and who faces a more challenging route.