Chris Wilder launched into stinging criticism of his Sheffield United squad following their 1-0 defeat to struggling Hull City on Friday night. 

He suggested that his squad was "maxed out" in terms of their ability and insisted he genuinely thought it might be the case and not a motivational ploy.

Sheffield United currently sit eighth in the Championship but are just two points off the top six as they prepare to travel to face Reading at the Madejski Stadium tonight.

Blades captain Billy Sharp has issued a forthright response to the criticism from the manager and has called on his team-mates to prove Wilder wrong and get their play-off push back on track.

He told the Yorkshire Post: "I think it was good man-management. We deserved a rollicking. The gaffer was angry and he had every right to be because we did not take a big opportunity.

"We got warned by the gaffer that it was the biggest game of the season but we knew that anyway. It was a disappointing result and performance from everyone. They (Hull) wanted it more than us.

"We just have to make sure that we want it more than Reading. If we do, then hopefully our quality will shine through. The gaffer said in the press exactly what he told us.

"He is not one of those who tells the press one thing and then something different to us. He was fed up because he has been driving us for a season now. It is time for us to give him something back."

The Verdict

Sharp is right - the Sheffield United players do need to step up to the plate, starting tonight against Reading.

They are still in with an outstanding chance of making the play-offs and winning their game in hand tonight will put them back into the top six.

It was interesting to hear Sharp say the players need to stop relying on Wilder to drive them - they have to be more independent and take responsibility.

Sheffield United fans - are you going to get the result tonight? Let us know in the comments below...