‘We got pumped’ - Brutal Chris Wilder reaction after Aston Villa thrash Sheffield United

Chris Wilder has apologised to Sheffield United supporters after being “pumped” 5-0 by Aston Villa.

A feeble Blades side were outclassed by Unai Emery’s men and plunged further into relegation crisis. While Villa kept their Champions League dream alive, defeat for United rooted them further to the bottom of the table.

They are now 10 points adrift from safety - with a -40 goal difference - as well as winning just twice all season. Wilder returned to Bramall Lane in December aiming to keep the club in the Premier League despite all odds.

But the 56-year-old suffered his heaviest defeat as Blades manager since returning to South Yorkshire against Villa. Earlier in the campaign, Sheffield United were also battered 8-0 at home to Newcastle United.

Speaking post-match, Wilder admitted his side were ”taken to the cleaners” but refused to give up on top-flight survival. The Blades take travel to Luton Town next for a mammoth contest that could decide their Premier League future.

He said: “We’ve been well and truly pumped. We’ve been outclassed and outfought in every department. In this league, they put you to bed and take you to the cleaners.

“You have to take your medicine. We have to accept that and apologise to our supporters because they’ve been superb. We’ve let them down this evening. We have to accept it, roll our sleeves up and go again. We have a huge game at Luton next weekend and we have to show more than we did here.”