Brentford 2-0 Sheffield United: Analysis

Eight games without a win, one victory in 16 Premier League matches and a league-high 84 goals conceded.

Yet even after defeat by another side scrapping at the bottom, and with relegation looming, there have been green shoots of recovery for Sheffield United in recent weeks.

After a season in which they have, at times, failed to compete, Chris Wilder's side appear to have rediscovered their fighting spirit and an ability to stay in games.

They have still leaked goals but in the loss at Brentford, they look solid for long periods and restricted the home side to very few chances of note.

This late-season improvement has almost certainly come too late to save them but the Blades will hope that it provides them with a base to build from over the summer.

The chances of that being ahead of another season in the top flight grow slimmer by the game but until confirmation of their relegation comes, this side are now showing that they will battle to the last to prevent it.