Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder was disappointed with their defending after Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace.

Ben Brereton Diaz had the Blades ahead in the first minute and James McAtee also struck, but it wasn't enough on the night as Palace won through goals from Ebere Eze (2) and Michael Olise.

Wilder said: "It just shows the ruthless nature of the Premier League. I wish Michael Olise could have made his comeback at the weekend instead of coming back tonight.

"We got off to a fabulous start. We talk about our competitiveness and attitude that we need to bridge the gap. That gap is two £50m players. Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise and you've also got Jefferson Lerma and Marc Guehi who is a centre-half for England and Joachim Andersen who is one of the best centre-backs in Europe. That's what you're up against.

"We tried to bridge the gap, second half we got close. But when they find that little bit of magic. The cross off Olise, the finish off Eze, or the other finish by Olise. They find that bit to get in front.

"We can't score two goals away from home and come away with nothing. Unfortunately we have done and that's the life and times of trying to be in the Premier League.

"There's no talk about league position or points difference. we're talking about performance. We just have to go again against Villa on Saturday. It's a great game for us. We can't take a step back. We believed we could get a result here. But we have to do things better defensively, and do better things when we have the opportunity to punish them."

On more signings this transfer window, he added: "We'll see what happens. People are working their socks off to help us improve the group. Ben Brereton Diaz has been excellent. The goalkeeper is unfortunate. I'm not for referees chucking out cards but I have to say, regardless if it's an accident or not, he smashes into my goalkeeper and he has to go off and the cards stay in the ref's pocket."