Wilder said he was pleased the supporters had got behind Bindon in his return to the line-up.
“I thought the reaction of his supporters was excellent as well, because I’m sure there might have been some hangovers from early on in the season from them as well.”
After the game against Norwich City, Bindon was voted United’s second-best player in the BBC’s online fans’ poll.
Chris Wilder: “I was really, really impressed. Tyler's been great around the place. He’s another one who's had a difficult start to his Sheffield United life, career, but gives everything in training. Yet again, the door opens. I thought his performance was excellent. I thought the reaction of his supporters was excellent as well, because I'm sure there might have been some hangovers from early on in the season from them as well. I just had a chat with Steve Bettis [SUFC CEO] about it, we always talk about the game, and how impressed we were with Tyler and Sydie Peck, two players who got exposed at the start of the season. The focus went on him, and a lot of criticism and negativity went his way. But from his first action on Saturday, a brave diving header, I thought his partnership with Japh [Tanganga] was really good and if Mark doesn't make it, then Tyler gets that opportunity. Hopefully he grabs it the way Mark grabbed his opportunity, and other players have done for theirs as well.”
Bindon wasn’t nearly as dominant in the air as he’s capable of being, gonna need to bulk up more if he wants to play Premier League someday, but he was brave and aggressive, making a couple of crunchy tackles and looking excellent with his passing. Another solid display from the 20yo kiwi. Gotta point out that this doesn’t mean he’s climbed up the depth chart at all – he’s been fourth choice CB all along, it’s just that two of the guys ahead of him are currently injured. But he has shown the coach and the fans that they can trust him in this division and that’ll bode well whatever happens in January. This was Chris Wilder, prior to the Norwich game, talking about the possibility of Bindon’s loan ending early...
More from Chris Wilder: “There are always discussions but there's a lot of football to be played. I think we've got five fixtures between now and January 1. If Mark's out, and if he's out for Friday, then the natural one is Tyler plays. We'll wait and see. It does him no harm, whether he stays or goes back or goes out again, by producing quality performances. If he produces performances like he did on Saturday and that door opens for him, then it's for others to move him from that position.”
The goal helped Bindon (20) pick up the Player of the Match award and increased the chances he’ll stay at the club on loan from Nottingham Forest after previous speculation that the loan would be cut short when the January transfer window opened.
Tyler Bindon … Player of the Match for Sheffield United.
After initially failing to win over new manager Chris Wilder, injuries and a congested December fixture list gave him opportunities to claim a role in the side.
Wilder had read the riot act to the United squad after a 2-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion last Friday.
Backing up against Birmingham City — whose head coach is former Hawke’s Bay United player and youth coach Chris Davies — Wilder said he was looking for a reaction.
“It was a great goal from Tyler, and there was some really bright, positive play at the middle and the top of the pitch,” Wilder said after the win.
“I thought everybody was at it today.”
In his post-match interview, the 21-cap All White said it was “surreal” to score his first goal for the club.
“To score at a club with so much history and prestige was pretty cool,” Bindon said.
“And to do it in front of my family made it even better.”
Bindon confirmed that his mother, former Football Ferns goalkeeper Jenny Bindon, and his father Grant, a former New Zealand volleyball international, were in the 28,271 crowd at Bramall Lane.
Bindon said he was grateful to Wilder for giving him the chance to play for United.
“Football’s a funny game — like it has its ups and downs, you know, and you just have to ride the wave and whatever happens, happens, and just take it day by day.”
Asked whether he would be content to stay at the club for the rest of the season, Bindon said: “I’m not too sure on everything’s that’s going on, but at the moment, my focus is here and now, and where I am as a Sheffield United player.”
Chris Wilder: “Regardless if he'd have scored or not, I thought his performance was outstanding. It's going to give him a boost and a shot of confidence scoring, of course, but his general play and partnership was good between him and Japh [Tanganga]. He was up against some good players at the top of the pitch... [Bindon]'s had a tough start because of what happened in the first month of the season. You've seen there's a player in there and he's had to bide his time but he's got an opportunity now and let's see where it goes.
I’ve not made a decision on it. Tyler’s been excellent around the place. We obviously paid money for Mark McGuinness and Japh [Tanganga], big money signings in the summer, and Ben Mee was outstanding partnership with him and Japh. Mark came in against Stoke and played well, then we changed it round to Tyler and Japh for the Norwich game. Maybe I made a mistake and should have gone with them two again but I thought Mark deserved that chance off the back of his first half performance against Stoke. So that’s maybe something we didn’t get right. But what you have to have is the attitude of player to say, alright, I’m disappointed that I’ve not played but if I get an opportunity I’m going to take it. And [Bindon] certainly took it and everything’s on the table.”
Lots of fan praise on Twitter. Like so many young players, searching for that consistency no doubt. Especially as games come thick and fast in the festive period.
“The Star has been told that Forest do have the option to recall him, with a deadline to do so before the midway point of this month,” Hall reported.
“But we understand that the Premier League side are happy for their player to see out the season in South Yorkshire after conversations between officials at Bramall Lane and the City Ground.”
Bindon had a difficult start at United as the club fell into the relegation zone and United fans were critical of him.
But United manager Chris Wilder has made it clear he’s been won over by the All White since replacing sacked manager Ruben Selles.
“He’s been good,” Wilder said.
After a long spell on the subs’ bench, injuries opened the way for Bindon, and he has held his place since.
“He’s a young boy. We don’t want him to make mistakes, but he will do. But the performance of him and Japh [Tanganga, the United skipper] recently has been really good and really positive.
“I’m looking forward to working with him in the second part of the season.”
Soccerway had Bindon the 2nd highest rated Blades player, as down to 9 men they lose 1-0.
Red cards 35 and 45 + 2 mins. The 2nd sending off was his CB partner Tanganga. On came Ben Mee.
Short highlights. Doesn't show the two reds, but SU (in white) had all the big first half chances incl a Bindon header that goes just wide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlwaTOrnCZQ
At final whistle Blades players agruing with the ref about the two reds no doubt.
