A baffled Chris Wilder promised a ‘big review’ ahead of Middlesbrough’s visit to Bramall Lane on Wednesday evening as he admitted his Sheffield United side didn’t deserve anything from their win over Portsmouth at the weekend.

Goals from Gus Hamer and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi sealed a 2-1 win for Wilder’s side that moved them up to second in the Championship table, three points ahead of Burnley. With Boro next up on Wednesday evening though, Wilder referenced Michael Carrick’s greatest mentor as he held no punches on his side’s performance.

“I don’t think we deserved anything from the game," he told the Sheffield Star. “We were second best all over the park but it’s a cut-throat industry that we’re in. We’ll have a big review of the game, reflect and quickly get over it.

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“I’m taking it back a little bit, and half the people who read your stuff won’t know about it, but Sir Alex Ferguson when they (Aberdeen) won a cup final against Rangers and had a right pop at his players. I’m not quite to that extent and we haven’t won a cup but we need to be better.”

Having made seven January signings to significantly strengthen his squad after a difficult summer window amid takeover uncertainty, Wilder was able to name a strong starting XI against Pompey, which included four of the new arrivals.

Wilder felt the added depth told in the game as he was able to bring on match-winner Rak-Sakyi, along with Rhian Brewster, while January arrival Rob Holding came on to help see out the result. Unused in the game were players such as Callum O’Hare, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Andre Brooks.

“We should have been two or three down first half; we defended really poorly, individually and as a unit,” Wilder admitted. “If they were more clinical they’d have put us to bed. The second half was a bit better, we had the luxury to change it around which we haven’t before.

"As I’ve said before, in a season there are 10 or 15 games you play really well. Some more when you play okay to well, and there are a handful where you think: ‘How have we got something from that game?’

“And I think that’s today. In the second half the amount of free-kicks we gave away was absolutely frightening. It was unrecognisable. Some of the decisions we made were baffling. I’ve been brought up to be honest and tell the truth, there have been spin managers all over the place, that look and see a completely different game.

"But the supporters wouldn’t enjoy me trying to spin that, so I won’t. We were second best, and didn't deserve anything from the game. And we have to be so much better going down the stretch if we want to achieve what we want to.”