Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder says this season has been the toughest of his career.

Wilder admits there have been times when he has felt more like a counsellor than a football manager.

"These players have swum the channel to get in the position they are," said Wilder, who has shared winning the League One title and promotion from the Championship with many of the players in his current squad over the past five years.

"I'm not going to smash them over the head. I support them. Sometimes, what they have done in such a short period of time, is overlooked a bit. We want more.

"Am I being a counsellor as much as a manager? Yes, it seems that way, because we are trying to keep spirits high and positive.

"It's one of the hardest periods I've been through in my managerial career, because of my connection to this club. We just want to get through it."