Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has blamed his team for naively making “some not great decisions that did not allow for a bit more pressure” after their loss to Chelsea at Bramall Lane.

Chelsea defeated their hosts 2-1 in a pulsating match, with the Blades scoring through an own goal by the Blues defender Antonio Rudiger.

The Blades thought they had been awarded a penalty on 12 minutes when Chris Basham was fouled in the area, but after referee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot, VAR ruled Basham was offside.

Chelsea broke the deadlock two minutes before the break, when Mason Mount slotted home Timo Werner’s pull back.

However, United were level with an own goal from Rudiger nine minutes into the second half.

It was game on, but a sloppy back pass from Kean Bryan sold Aaron Ramsdale short and Chelsea were awarded a penalty and gifted the winner.

After the match, the Blades boss Wilder said on the second goal: “Yeah, we can’t afford to make those mistakes, we have to be close to perfection. Really disappointing goal to concede, to get back on level terms, we had the momentum to make it really interesting.

“But to give the goal has knocked us back.

We made it uncomfortable and Rammo did not have too much to do I felt comfortable and really in the game even at 1-0 down, still felt something in the game.

On the timing of the second goal: “A dagger, but they are big boys and they came back in last 10 or 15
We were able to take a chance and open up and timing is always key, we can’t go and play x, y and z formation against these teams they pick you off, we had to stay in the game and pick your moments to go and we did in the last 10, but we naively made some not great decisions that did not allow for a bit more pressure

“We have to take something from performances like that against the likes of Chelsea. Last year we had to create cup tie performances to get anything out of the game. Even then we never comfortably won any but it was our attitude that gave us a chance and we are seeing that now.

“We don’t get any points but players in the opposition dressing room will be thinking that was a tough game.

“We have to try and make that gap between the two teams as close as possible and Man City, Man United and Chelsea just top powerhouse European football clubs and we have done, we have made them competitive

“I’ll pick out bits of criticism but I do feel for the players because they are giving absolutely everything.

“From the penalty point of view, when the back pass went short and it looked like the inevitable would happen when he went down in the box.

“We got got punished from a slack moment and it wasn’t great from our point of view having just scored.

“Attitude excellent again, right up against it in terms of what we have available and what we are up against.

“The attention to details that these clubs put into their academies and the players they produce – Mount and Reece James were excellent.

“Mount great run and fabulous finish but second one we leave a back pass short in any division you are going to get punished.”

Photo Credit: SheffieldUnited/Twitter