"Ridiculous" - Chris Wilder not happy at task Sheffield United are facing | OneFootball

Chris Wilder is unhappy with the short turnarounds between games that Sheffield United face

Chris Wilder has branded Sheffield United's schedule this week as " ridiculous" with his side facing three games in six days.

The Blades drew away to Coventry City on Saturday, before a comfortable win at home to Oxford United on Tuesday night, and they're back in action on Friday when they host promotion rivals Sunderland at Bramall Lane.

Given their status as one of the division's biggest clubs, it's understandable why games are being moved for TV broadcast, but it's undoubtedly frustrating for Wilder, particularly as they don't possess the depth that some Championship clubs do, despite a strong starting XI.

Friday's clash with the Black Cats will be the fourth time this season that Sheffield United have had to play on a Friday night, and playing three games in six days puts them at a disadvantage to some of their promotion rivals.

With Championship fixtures set to come thick and fast before the next international break in March, it's set to put a strain on Wilder's squad, and the Blades boss is the first person to admit that the scheduling is far from ideal.

In the aftermath of Sheffield United's 3-0 win over his former side, Oxford United, Wilder took aim at the fixture scheduling which will see his side play three games in six days, with the final game being a huge game against Sunderland, who are also battling for promotion.

Speaking to The Star, Wilder said: “The turnaround of games is ridiculous. And I do understand it, the teams that people want to see or are in and around the top four or five will be the ones who gets showcased, but we're coming off a Saturday, to a Tuesday, to a Friday night yet again.

"l look at everyone else's fixtures and there's only maybe another one or two who have the turnaround we have to deal with. It's not ideal, not ideal for Sunderland, and not ideal for us, but we'll deal with it."

Being one of the main attractions in the league, it's understandable why they've had so many games moved to a Friday night for broadcasting reasons, but Wilder is well within his rights to feel aggrieved, and it's less than ideal to have such a congested schedule during a crucial period of the season.

Sheffield United can make a statement of intent with win over Sunderland

After losing against promotion rivals Leeds United earlier in the season, Wilder will know his side can't afford to lose against another promotion rival, particularly at home.

A win for the Blades would leave them very well-placed to be in the mix for automatic promotion, and these are the games you need to be winning if you're going to get promoted come May.

At this stage of the season, it looks like there are four clubs in contention for automatic promotion, Sheffield United, Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland, and the games where they face each other and take points off one another could be crucial in deciding who finishes in the top two.

The Black Cats have fallen off a little bit in recent weeks thanks to drawing a number of games, but a win against the Blades would certainly get them back on track.

The fixture scheduling is far from ideal for Sunderland or the Blades, but Wilder will have to put that behind him with a huge game on the horizon.