Bilic delighted while Wilder bemoans lack of quality

WEST BROMWICH, England (Reuters) – West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic was delighted after his side chalked up their first Premier League win of the season on Saturday while his Sheffield United counterpart Chris Wilder rued a lack of quality within the league’s bottom team.

Soccer Football – Premier League – West Bromwich Albion v Sheffield United – The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Britain – November 28, 2020 West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic Pool via REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

West Brom moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 home win over the Blades, who missed a flurry of chances after conceding a soft 13th-minute goal when Conor Gallagher’s tame shot trickled into the bottom left corner.

Bilic singled out Gallagher and goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who produced a string of saves to keep West Brom ahead as they soaked up pressure in the second half.

“I am delighted for Connor Gallagher,” Bilic told the BBC.

“He is a young kid but very mature. I wanted him to play of course and boy, if he continues like this, he has a big, big, big career in front of him on a top, top level.

“I said before the season, when I saw our squad, that one of the big things we will need throughout the whole season is a top goalkeeper. Sam Johnstone at the moment is doing it brilliantly for us. He knows that and we are happy to have him.”

Wilder conceded that Sheffield United faced a mammoth task to avoid the drop after picking up one point from their opening 10 games and scoring only four goals in the process, the league’s joint-fewest tally alongside 18th-placed Burnley.

“We have to be realistic with the start we have had,” he said.

“I understand people talk about this team not getting many points. We have to pick ourselves up between now and Christmas and I’m sure four or five teams in the bottom part of the division would take 17th (place) now.

“There is nothing wrong with the attitude and desire of the team. It is just the quality in front of goal that has let us down today. I thought we started the game well but then it was a poor goal from our point of view.”

Writing by Zoran Milosavljevic; editing by Clare Fallon