49-year-old played for east Londoners in 1992 and is disappointed the ‘famous old club’ are struggling

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is disappointed to see Leyton Orient struggling so bad having represented the club during the 1991/92 campaign.

The 49-year-old watched his Blades thrash the O’s 6-0 in the first round of the FA Cup yesterday at Bramall Lane.

It was Orient’s heaviest defeat since 1982 and with the east Londoners currently in the League Two relegation zone, things could get even worst.

Wilder said: “I did have a brief spell at Orient. It is a famous old club and I know Russell Slade really well and the old chairman Barry Hearn.

“It was built on steady foundations so it is a difficult period for the football club. I went to the play-off final and thought they were extremely unlucky against Rotherham United in 2014.

“They were one of the outstanding teams in League One that season, although I know I have enough on at this club without commenting elsewhere, but it is disappointed to see where they are right now.”

Wilder revealed he didn’t get a chance to speak with opposite number Alberto Cavasin after Sunday’s 6-0 thrashing which was because the Italian was in the dressing room for almost an hour with his players after the match.

The Blades boss admitted he wasn’t sure what type of opposition he would face in the FA Cup despite Orient’s struggles this season

Even though his former loan club are 23rd in the league standings, the pedigree of O’s players are impressive and it forced the Sheffield United manager to warn his players before the cup tie.

“The attitude and work ethic was first class, as well as the play. Those two things come before the third one,” said Wilder.

“We had a couple of changes and changed the formation a little bit, but the attitude and thirst for doing well and working hard was first class.

“I think people look at the opposition and say they didn’t produce much, but you have to beat what is put in front of you.

“Look at Orient’s team sheet and they have people who have played at a lot higher level than they are producing now so you don’t know how they will turn up.

“But we took that out of their hands and I told the players that before. I said whatever quality Orient have, we need to take that away from them by doing the bits our game is based on.”