Mixed feelings for Sheffield United as the Premier League reveals the results of a major consultation exercise

Not because his team was en route to a 3-0 win over the five time Premier League champions. Rather, having criticised the introduction of five substitute rule only days earlier, he felt the sheer depth of talent at Lampard’s disposal confirmed the change was unfairly benefitting the country’s biggest and most affluent clubs.

Earlier today, when members voted to revert to three ahead of the new campaign, Wilder will have been relieved to discover he was not the only top-flight manager harbouring this concern.

“Clubs also agreed to revert back to using up to three substitutes per match, with a maximum of seven substitutes on the bench,” a statement, issued by the PL following its consultation into both the number of replacements permitted and VAR, read.

Despite a growing weight of academic evidence that Wilder’s suspicions were unfounded - Professor Igancio Palcios-Huerta of the London School of Economics and previously Athletic Bilbao recently conducting a study which suggested the opposite was true - how laws are perceived is arguably more important than why they were conceived. Football post the Covid-19 lockdown exposed a lack of depth within United’s squad compared to most of their divisional rivals which, as the matches came thick and fast, almost certainly contributed to their poor run of results towards the end of the campaign. After brushing aside Lampard’s men - David McGoldrick scoring either side of Oli McBurnie’s effort - United lost their remaining three fixtures and, despite rightly being proud of finishing ninth only a season after being promoted, were also disappointed to miss out on a place in Europe.

“It favours the more powerful, I don’t think there can be any doubt about that,” Wilder said. “It’s better for the ones who have got internationals going all the way through their squad and with the very best academies. So no, I didn’t agree with changing it.”

"As far as I was concerned, everything was okay the way it was," he continued. "I didn't hear people complaining before all of this (the coronavirus pandemic) so I'm not really sure why it's suddenly become such a major issue now."

Wilder was also scathing in his criticism of how VAR was implemented across the course of the 2019/20 schedule; particularly when the video official failed to alert referee Michael Oliver to the fact that Hawkeye had failed to spot Oliver Norwood’s free-kick had been carried across the line during June’s goalless draw with Aston Villa.

Wilder will be disappointed, but not surprised, to learn the system will again be in use next term - albeit with greater emphasis on conducting touchline reviews rather than referring every incident back to Stockley Park.

An important message: Thank you for reading this story. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on our advertisers and thus our revenues. The Star is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. You can subscribe here www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions for unlimited access to Sheffield news and information online. Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism and campaign on your behalf for our city. Once again, thank you. James.