CHRIS Wilder felt his Sheffield United side succeeded where plenty of sides have failed in completely dominating and containing Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.

For all Boro's form has been poor of late, Michael Carrick's side have still played well in parts.

But they were second best throughout at Bramall Lane, and Wilder said: “I never really felt that at any point in the game we were under the cosh against a team that, the majority of the time, dominates teams in this division with the way they play and the way they’re coached."

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi gave Sheffield United the lead before Boro were gifted a leveller from the spot on the stroke of half-time.

But Carrick's side then once again paid the price for their dreadful defending, with Ben Brereton-Diaz and Anel Ahmedhodzic scoring late goals to secure a deserved home win.

Wilder said: "I thought our press from the front three/four was really good and never allowed them to get into a rhythm. In possession, we were just really effective and created some big chances, so I think it was a deserved victory.

“We had to be good because if we weren’t we’d have been done. They have the ability to put teams to bed, but we never allowed them to control or to get in a rhythm, and that doesn’t happen often to Middlesbrough and the really excellent team that Michael has assembled. I enjoy watching them and they’ve got some really good players. We’re all after the end bit - the performance and the result. But we knew we had to be at our best because they’re dangerous. We were at our best.

“We had to be structured and organised out of possession, we had to look after that press, which we really did. A lot goes into that and it stopped them getting into any kind of rhythm. A lot goes into that physically because you’ve got to work extremely hard to nail that press and commit to it. We had to be brave, but the mentality of the boys was good.

“We didn't switch off much - once in the second half when they had that opportunity. That shows you have to be bang at it out of possession. We were and that allowed us to pick up the first ball and drop on second balls that meant we could then get ourselves going.

"We tried to nick it off them in places we can then hurt them and I thought we were close a couple of times. They’re brave in how they play and what they do, and so we had to be brave in our commitment and discipline to stick to our plan."

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Young Sheffield United midfielder Sydie Peck picked the pass that led to Sheffield United's decisive second goal and Wilder was full of praise the 20-year-old, who came up against Hayden Hackney.

Hackney was overlooked by Wilder during his time in charge of Boro but the Blades boss now appreciates the Teessider's talent.

“There were some big performances against a good team," he said.

"Sydie Peck is someone who’s come through our system and is someone we’ve known about for two or three years now. He had an interesting battle tonight because, I’ve got to say, I think Hayden Hackney is the outstanding midfielder in the division for such a tender age.

"He’s been absolutely amazing. But they had an interesting battle and Sydie can be proud of his performance."

Wilder was furious with the award of Boro's penalty after George Edmundson and Jack Robinson's tussle in the box but pleased with the way his players responded to the sense of injustice.

"We had to keep our cool and reset at half-time," he said.

"There was a lot of emotion flying around the place at half-time, around the stadium and in our changing room, because it's just a ridiculous decision. Two guys have got hold of each other's shirt. If one was pulling the other, then I get it. There would be penalties all over the place if that was the standard of decisions that we're getting.

“But I don't want the narrative to be about a decision. I want the narrative to be about a really good performance against an excellent side. The narrative should be about how we nullified their threat. The out of possession stuff was really good. We never allowed them to get any rhythm and I was really pleased with how we recovered from that decision.”

Wilder got some flak from the away end in the early stages of the home fans responded by singing his name.

Wilder said: “I appreciated the support the punters gave me. I understand the narrative - I get it. But I sleep well, so I’m okay.

"They didn’t have to do that, but I appreciated it. Hopefully the supporters have appreciated a really good performance from our boys.”