Sheffield United

Former Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba says the atmosphere at Bramall Lane "will be key" against Saturday.

He is hopeful the Blades can build on their win at Luton with the visit of Brighton.

"We had the focus on the boys' character for the Luton match after a defeat (to Aston Villa)," he told the Blades Heaven podcast. "Now you've got the completely opposite because we're playing Brighton who, we all know, are a really great team.

"The way they run the club is brilliant, the player recruitment is brilliant and the way the manager sets them up is brilliant. But, it doesn't set the mind alight, you're not rushing to Bramall Lane to see Brighton. It just doesn't have that effect like Liverpool does or Man Utd does. But, arguably they're as good a team.

"The boys' mentality has got to be 'we can't drop our performance or mentality, work rate or desire'. It's the same in the stands. I always go on about the importance of the fans - on Saturday they were incredible.

"You replicate that form and your work rate, tackling and hunger - those fans are there and we need them again. We need a hostile atmosphere."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds, external

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Saturday's win at Luton was readily welcomed by Sheffield United fans.

A first away win, a disciplined and clinical performance and maybe a little renewed hope. It is also the first time United have scored three goals away from home in the top flight since March 1993.

If nothing else, it shows the Blades can win games at this level and produce some competitive moments for their fans. There is nothing worse than a season just petering out and there was a danger of that happening if they lost to Luton.

As it is, they are seven points from safety with games against Brighton and Wolves to come. They are difficult, of course, but one or two may just have pondered this week what the table might look like if they can take four or even six points from the next two games.

Meanwhile, Vini Souza has been a hotly debated player in his debut season so it was good to see him get a goal. Our BBC Radio Sheffield summariser Carl Asaba was genuinely excited to see him playing as well as he did and hopefully he can go on from here.

Chris Wilder spoke about engaging the fans after a torrid previous game against Aston Villa. That feels like job done, so let's see if the Blades can avenge their FA Cup defeat against the Seagulls.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Blades striker Carl Asaba says Sheffield United's players must shut out any external noise and believe they can survive in the Premier League this season.

United are currently bottom and seven points from safety but recorded their first away win of the season at Luton last weekend.

"For me, if I was one of the players now I wouldn't listen to anyone saying we're gone," he told BBC Radio Sheffield's Blades Heaven podcast.

"If you focus on the outside too much, you're not focusing on your job in hand. You can't control the media, the forums, all you can control is your own performance and you have to give your all to be the best you can be on the pitch.

"I don't think they're gone. I'm one of the people who looks at our team, looks at the performances and thinks if we can knit them together, we are technically as good as most teams. We have the energy of most teams, we have the desire.

"It's making these attributes show up every day - not two of them. In this division you have to have everything. In the Championship you can have the ability and the hunger and sometimes get away without having the work rate.

"This is the top division in Europe, you have to have every attribute on point.

"If they can focus and knit it together of course they can beat Brighton. Brighton will be tough but if we play a perfect game and have a hostile atmosphere we can beat them."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Here are the key facts and figures before Sunday's game between Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last seven league games against Brighton (W4 D3), since a 2-1 home defeat in the Championship in January 2005.

• Brighton are winless in all five of their Premier League meetings with Sheffield United (D3 L2) – they’ve only faced Fulham (7) more often without ever winning in the competition.

• Sheffield United have conceded more home Premier League goals than any other side (31 in 12 games). In Premier League history, only West Brom in 2020-21 have shipped more goals in their first 12 home matches in a season (32).

• Brighton are winless in their last six away Premier League matches (D2 L4), their longest winless run on the road since a seven game run under Graham Potter between September and December 2021.

• At Bramall Lane in the Premier League this season, Sheffield United have faced 206 shots (17.2 per game) and 88 shots on target (7.3 per game) in just 12 matches. Since 2003-04, the only side to face more shots per game at home in a season is Wolves in 2011-12 (17.5), while the Blades’ on target faced per game number is the highest at home of any side in that time.

• Brighton and Hove Albion have only won one of their last six Premier League games against sides starting the day in the drop zone (D2 L3), conceding 15 goals across these matches.

• In their 3-1 win over Luton, Sheffield United went two goals ahead in a Premier League game for the first time since July 2020 against Chelsea (won 3-0), ending a run of 64 games without doing so, while it was only the fourth game this season they hadn’t trailed during the match.

• Oliver McBurnie has scored in each of his last four Premier League appearances at Bramall Lane but hasn’t ended on the winning side in any (D1 L3). He’s only the second player in Premier League history to score in four home appearances in a row without winning any, along with Carlton Cole between August and October 2009 for West Ham.

Ben Meakin
Fan writer

It was never really in doubt - not even this team was going to lose 16 games in a row to end the season - but I have to confess to emitting a small sigh of relief as Sheffield United crept past the dreaded 11-point mark this weekend.

The prospect of 'doing a Derby' has lingered long into our past two Premier League seasons (in 2020-21, we had two points by mid-January) so it is nice to once again be able to check off that particular milestone of misery.

I am convinced that Derby's record is one of the great unbreakable records in all of sport and I would cite this season as proof. United have been abject from the moment they got promoted; selling key players and replacing them with several who have looked way out of their depth; having the worst defence in the league by a mile (perhaps soon to become the worst in competition history), suffering the sort of injuries that typically dog relegation teams, and being on the end of some unbelievably one-sided hammerings.

All that, and we have still gone past the record with 14 games to spare, which really does beg the question of just how Derby managed it.

At the same time, there have been a couple of moments this season where 11 points seemed a long, long way off. Surely, I kept telling myself, as we went 8-0 down at home to Newcastle and 5-0 down at Burnley and Arsenal, even the worst teams can scrape and scrap their way to a couple of wins. And so it proved - it just took slightly longer than was comfortable (and came after yet another 5-0 defeat the previous week).

With that milestone ticked off, the rest of the season feels like a bit of a free hit. The next bar to try to clear should be to get off the bottom of the table and ahead of a Burnley side who have been strangely immune to national mockery on the same scale as United have faced, despite us now having the same amount of points.

Ben Meakin can be found at BladesPod, external

We asked you for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League match between Luton Town and Sheffield United.

Here are some of your comments:

Luton fans

Sue: We are not going to win every game. There were some mistakes and tired legs after the last two games. Our position above the relegation zone is something we would have taken after the first three games. Let’s not forget there are a lot of games before we need to worry. We are staying up - you better believe it.

Paul: Sheffield United’s game plan worked well. United's Vini Souza bossed the midfield and won every header in his box. We had a lot of possession but we didn’t really look like scoring. We will be back. Come on you Hatters!

Jim: Ross Barkley is probably the most naturally talented football player to play for Luton Town. When you have supporters like the Hatters do, who appreciate him and take him to their hearts, I believe it brings out the best in him, especially when the last couple of years haven't been his best. He is up there with the best.

Blades fans

Green: A brilliant response from the thumping against Aston Villa. I thought James McAtee was brilliant and so was Cameron Archer up front. I still don’t think we will stay up this season, but we can certainly take a lot of positives from this performance.

John: Superb response to last week's game against Aston Villa, to be honest. We need to get a run going and take our chances, which we are creating and aren't that bad.

Alan: Vini Souza was the main difference between the two teams. He is a completely different player under Chris Wilder. We were excellent today.

Image source, Getty Images

Former players Alan Shearer and Martin Keown have criticised the use of the handball laws in Sheffield United's 3-1 win over Luton Town in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

In his post-match interview, manager Rob Edwards said "I don't know what handball is anymore" after VAR awarded Sheffield United a penalty.

"I think it was actually the decision made by Paul Tierney, the VAR man in charge on the day. I just don't get this [first penalty call] to be honest," Keown explained on Match of the Day.

"Not a single player was complaining, saying it was a handball or whatever. It was completely out of kilter with the expectation of the players. How are you supposed to get out of the way of this? The proximity is just ridiculous.

"To say that's not a natural position to be in is ridiculous. Who are they asking, by the way? Your arm has to come up to rebalance, so that's ridiculous.

"The good thing was both of the penalty decisions were really poor, so maybe one cancelled the other out. He [referee Chris Kavanagh] was asked to look at it, by the way, and he still didn't change his mind."

All-time Premier League top goalscorer Alan Shearer branded the rule "an absolute joke" after Luton were also awarded a similar penalty: "If you think the first one [penalty call] is a bad one, have a look at the second one with [Vini] Souza. It's an absolute joke of a decision.

"I really think that he [Kavanagh] thinks VAR has given the first one so he's going to even it up for the second one. How on earth does he think that's a handball? It's a crazy decision.

"The handball law, as we know, is an absolute joke. You're hearing managers and players saying, 'we just don't know what handball is anymore' every single week.

"These are the same guys, IFAB, who are making the handball law and want to bring blue cards in for sin bins. Do me a favour man, honestly."

Watch the full Match of the Day episode on BBC iPlayer

Mark Chapman introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League matches.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

Liverpool 3-1 Burnley

Nottingham Forest 2-3 Newcastle

Tom Gayle
Final Score reporter

As far as away days go, a six-hour round trip for those based in Sheffield, rewarded with a first Premier League win on the road this season and arguably their best overall performance of the campaign so far, will give Blades fans a spring in their step this Monday morning.

Chris Wilder clearly had his side well-drilled to deal with the inevitable multiple Luton set pieces they faced, and they were a harsh penalty decision away from a third league clean sheet.

Ahead of the game, Opta’s statisticians predicted a 99% chance of Sheffield United being relegated. This one result won’t change that but the scenes after the full-time whistle did provide clear evidence, despite their precarious position in the table, of the unity between supporters, players and coaching staff to keep giving it their all.

The entire squad were clapped off the pitch to the soundtrack of "Chrissy Wilder, he’s one of our own".

Image source, Getty Images

Former Spurs defender Stephen Kelly believes Sheffield United's 3-1 win over Luton Town might still be too little too late in terms of their survival hopes, with the Blades still sitting rock bottom in the Premier League on 13 points.

"Those three points are huge for Sheffield United. Again, I don't think it will be enough to save them but I think it really does put Luton's chance of survival on the brink," Kelly told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Sheffield United, at home, are the team that they [Luton Town] have to be picking up points against."

The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards added: "If you're going to go down, you don't want to go down with the sense of inevitability from this point in the year. You don't want to be playing out the last three or four months of the season thinking, 'right we're done, we're finished'.

"That result today will just give them a glimmer of hope that they can stay up. Chris Wilder needed it. We sort of associate Wilder's Sheffield United team as the great team that he took into the Premier League and kept up with fight, spirit and determination.

"Dare I say it, that team had that little bit of 'Yorkshire grit' and I think they showed that against Luton."

Listen to Saturday's Football Daily on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Marissa Thomas, BBC Sport

Sheffield United bounced back from their chastening defeat against Aston Villa by securing an important win over relegation rivals Luton.

It was their first league victory since 9 December when they beat Brentford 1-0 at home.

The Blades won away for the first time this campaign, in fact it was their first Premier League away victory since March 2021 (1-0 against Everton).

They also led by two goals for the first time in a league game after Cameron Archer's 30th minute strike and James McAtee's 36th minute penalty.

McAtee has been a bright spark in the struggling United side with four of his five goal involvements (three goals, one assist) in the Premier League coming since Chris Wilder took charge of the Blades in December 2023.

Wilder's side made the most of their chances despite having just 25% possession.

While the win is much-needed relief for United, they are still bottom of the league and seven points from safety as they battle against the odds to avoid relegation.

Here are the key facts and figures following Saturday's game between Luton Town and Sheffield United in the Premier League.

• Sheffield United won their first Premier League away game since March 2021 (1-0 against Everton), while they have scored three goals in an away match in the competition for the first time since October 1993 (3-3 against Southampton), ending a run of 84 games without doing so.

• Luton have lost a home league game against Sheffield United for the first time since December 1994 (6-3 in the second tier).

• The Blades have conceded 60 goals in just 24 games in the Premier League this season, the fewest number of matches to concede 60 goals in the competition ever.

• Luton’s Carlton Morris has either scored (3) or assisted (2) in each of his past four Premier League games, as many goal involvements as in his first 19 games in the competition this season (also three goals, two assists).

• James McAtee’s 36th minute penalty put Sheffield United two goals ahead for the first time in a Premier League game this season.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "The reaction of the players this week has been great. Our attitude was only going to be answered when it was questioned on the pitch, and I thought they were outstanding and deserved the result.

"We let everybody down last Saturday evening [in the 5-0 loss to Aston Villa], we can't get away from that and we have to own it. There is no hiding place, you are in the Premier League.

"We answered it in a great manner. Feet on the ground, it has taken a long time to get that first away win.

"We have some young players learning in the hardest league in the world. Vini [Souza] was outstanding. Now we just keep it going. We need to engage our supporters, we let them down last week and now we have to engage them again in the next game.

"I can't look too far ahead, I can't look at what the league table will look like at the end of the season. There was a structure about us, I thought we could counter and hurt them. The level of performance was good."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Tom Gayle speaking after Luton's defeat at Kenilworth Road: "Sheffield United's first victory on the road this season.

"What a response to last week's home humiliation at the hands of Aston Villa, wrapped up by Vini Souza becoming the first Brazilian to score a Sheffield United Premier League goal.

"Those away fans won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

"Luton's unbeaten start to 2024 comes to an end."

Sheffield United secured a vital Premier League win at relegation rivals Luton.

Cameron Archer beat Gabriel Osho for pace on the right flank and slotted into the bottom corner before James McAtee converted from the penalty spot, as the Blades led by two league goals for the first time this season.

Carlton Morris got one back for Luton, scoring a spot-kick shortly after the break.

Vini Souza restored United's two-goal cushion with a well-struck finish 18 minutes from time.

Chris Wilder's side remain bottom of the league, seven points from safety, while Luton are just above the drop zone in 17th position.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?

Luton fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Sheffield United fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

There are seven games being played in the Premier League on Saturday and we will bring you every moment.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

All times are GMT

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool v Burnley

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle

Chris Sutton is taking on Sexy Beast star Stephen Moyer for the latest round of Premier League predictions.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

I am not going to back against Luton any longer - although that will probably jinx them now.

They beat Sheffield United at Bramall Lane a few weeks ago, although they were a little fortunate to see the Blades score two late own goals.

I love what Luton boss Rob Edwards has done, and he has proved me wrong, but he has still got work to do to keep them in the Premier League.

All season, the Hatters have not been a team who have just sat in and I am expecting them to go after the Blades here.

As for Sheffield United, well how can you make a case for them to stay up after they were humiliated by Aston Villa last week? I have got a lot of time for their manager, Chris Wilder, but I think this is going to end up being another defeat.

Stephen's prediction: 2-1

I've always really rated Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend and they have both fitted into the really cohesive way of playing that Luton have got. I think Luton are going to stay up, but it's a different story for Sheffield United. They have had their moments in recent weeks but they have not been picking up points and I don't see them getting anything here either.

See the full list of predictions

BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Frank asked: Teams like Wolves who play without a number nine are doing very well. Are old fashioned strikers needed anymore? Has the game changed?

Michael replied: The game has changed. I think we've seen a different type of striker.

But look at Liverpool and Arsenal for example, people mention they still need a number nine, so people are saying it, but we're not necessarily seeing those old-fashioned nines.

Manchester City did so well with the false nine, but then Erling Haaland came in and scored 50 goals. They still needed him and they still wanted a number nine, but it depends on your playing style.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Russell asked: The January transfer window was very quiet compared to recent years, probably due to Financial Fair Play and points deduction worries. Do you think the days of teams spending hundreds of millions each window are over? And if so, what long-term effects might that have on the Premier League?

Michael replied: I think we are going to see different spreads of spending. We're not going to see hundreds of millions in the January window because people will be more conscious of spreading those payments and their budget will already be in place.

They will probably do a lot more of it before the season, so I think we are going to see less of the the excitement of the January window because of quite obvious reasons.

The business will be done in the summer and clubs will say ‘this is what we've got'. They might have to send others on the way out first, rather than just spending that money and getting rid of players later.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson