Past connections not important to Chris Wilder as his focus is on first Middlesbrough win

Chris Wilder entertained no talk of the past or of Sunday's clash with Sheffield United meaning more, as he was tunnel-visioned and business-like in his preview of Middlesbrough's latest Championship game.

After collecting just one point from their opening two despite plenty of positives to take, Wilder is desperate to get the season going on Sunday with a win at the Riverside. And while there are obvious connections with the opponents Sheffield United for him, he insists he's treating the game like any other.

He had an excellent five years in charge of Sheffield United, taking them from League One to the Premier League. Meanwhile, in his first return to Bramall Lane since leaving, a disappointing evening saw Boro lose 4-1. But the Boro boss insists emotions can't get the better of him as it's business as usual for him, and looking for a win, just as he would any other game.

With the Wilder factor, Sheff Utd camp come to Boro expecting a tough game

“The attitude and preparation is no different to any other game, period, full stop," Wilder said ahead of the game. "It has to be. There are obvious connections, but the level of trying to win any game is always full tilt for me.

“That’s gone, that’s history, that was last season. We’re onto a fresh team from our point of view, and a fresh season. That happened, and Sheff United got into the play-offs and we didn’t. We had a fantastic run of it to keep our season going until the last game of the season, which I think is a better achievement than it maybe looked at the time. But that season finished on that day [at Preston] for us. It was a couple of weeks later for them.

“So that’s how I look at it. This is a brand new season, a fresh start, and we’ve only got one point out