Yahoo News Chris Wilder hits back at Paul Warne in Derby County and Jerry Yates row
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder insisted he did not touch Derby County forward Jerry Yates in an incident which got both managers booked.
Tempers flared after Paul Warne felt Wilder pushed Yates as he tried to retrieve the ball for a throw-in during the Blades’ 1-0 win.
Wilder said of the altercation: “There’s no obligation for them to play at a really quick tempo and a quick speed. I think the referee has an obligation to speed it up a little bit. I wasn’t intentionally trying to do anything or as Paul said ‘touch his player’. The ball was there, I wanted to pick it up and throw it back into our player to speed the game up.
“There was a reaction from the player (Yates), I get a yellow card and I disagree with Paul. I’ve got an incredible amount of respect for him but it doesn’t mean I need to be his best mate on a Saturday afternoon. I’m fighting for my football club and doing what I think is right, which is getting the ball back into play.”
READ MORE: Paul Warne explains why he 'lost it' with Chris Wilder in Derby County v Sheffield United fracas
Meanwhile, Wilder was pleased with Sheffield United’s game management.
Gustavo Hamer’s superb free-kick early in the second half was enough to see out another victory and Wilder said: “I’ve got to say, we prepared for a really tough game, so I’m delighted to get a 1-0 win and clean sheet.
“It was a bit bitty at times from our point of view. Credit to Derby in the set-up and they made it difficult. We had to be patient, we just didn’t knit it as well as I would have liked. I thought the players got a little bit frustrated with each other and the game.
“We calmed that down at half-time, moved the ball a little bit quicker, showed good energy right the way through the second half and found a magnificent winner.
“They are dangerous on the counter, they’ve got pace, they work their nuts off for the manager and the football club. We found the winner through Gus and our game management was absolutely spot on.
“We would have loved to have got a second goal to make it a little bit comfortable but we didn’t and 1-0 is enough to win a game of football and we move on.”
