Daniel Farke and Chris Wilder have been neck and neck in the promotion race this season, and although two completely different managers, the Leeds United and Sheffield United bosses might have more in common than first thought.
Tuesday night saw a wave of change at the top of the Championship table. But it was all good change for Leeds United who returned to the top spot after beating Middlesbrough 1-0 at the Riverside, whilst Sheffield United suffered a second straight defeat in the Championship.
The Blades lost 1-0 at home to Millwall and now sit in 3rd place of the table with Scott Parker’s seemingly unbeatable Burnley side wedged in 2nd place with five games left to play.
| 1 | Leeds | 41 | 24 | 13 | 4 | 80 | 28 | 52 | 85 |
| 2 | Burnley | 41 | 23 | 16 | 2 | 55 | 12 | 43 | 85 |
| 3 | Sheffield Utd | 41 | 26 | 7 | 8 | 56 | 31 | 25 | 83 |
Leeds’ win was hard fought and not without controversy. Nor was Sheffield United’s game against Millwall with both Daniel Farke and Chris Wilder left fuming with their respective officials after the game.
Daniel Farke and Chris Wilder agree after controversial refereeing decisions
After Ao Tanaka’s goal for Leeds United was disallowed on Tuesday night, and by Darren Williams who has thrice now ruled out perfectly fine Leeds United goals in the last couple of months, Farke blasted the refereeing decisions in his game. Then so too did Chris Wilder in his game.
Wilder revealed that he doesn’t like referee Sam Allison, who officiated Sheffield United and Millwall’s game, because Allison tried to get Ross Barkley’s shirt after a game last season. Wilder told The Star when asked if his side should’ve had a penalty against Millwall: “One hundred per cent. I’m not a fan of the referee.
“I don’t think I should get into trouble on that one, if I’m being honest, either. I wasn’t a fan of him last season when he refereed us against Luton and was asking for Ross Barkley’s shirt.
“I don’t know whose shirt he was after today. Maybe the shirt on Anel’s back that got absolutely ripped to pieces. I think especially with the situation we had against Middlesbrough, you’re looking for consistency. But I always think he wants to be the star of the show. So I knew what was coming and I wasn’t surprised.”
Chris Wilder in deep water after comments about Sheffield United fans, it’s great news for Leeds
So often it’s Leeds United who fall apart. And they were well and truly crumbling before that win at Middlesbrough. Now though it looks like the Blades who are falling apart with back-to-back defeats in the Championship.
And the Blades’ defeat at Millwall comes after some rather interesting comments from Wilder who called Sheffield United fans a ‘disgrace’ after their reaction to the previous defeat against Oxford United in the league.
Now with refereeing decisions not on their side either, it’s making for great viewing from a Leeds United perspective ahead of the final five games of the season.
The Whites return to action against Preston on Saturday whilst Sheffield United play away at Plymouth Argyle.
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