Sheffield United

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder accepted last night that relegation from the Premier League is "inevitable".

The Blades boss is already looking to next season in the Championship and the work that needs to be done to ensure his reshaped team are ready to make an immediate impact given they will only have two seasons of parachute payments, rather than three.

Decisions need to be made on Ben Brereton Diaz, Mason Holgate, James McAtee and Yasser Larouci, whose loan deals end on 30 June. In addition, numerous players, including Oli McBurnie, Jayden Bogle and goalkeeper Wes Foderingham are out of contract.

"It is going to be hard and intense this summer," said Wilder. "A lot of players are out of contract and others are returning to clubs from loans.

"It has been looked at for a while this might be an opportunity to rebuild.

"There is a lot of work to do, everyone recognises it.

"We know what we need to do. We are taking the pain before the inevitable and we can get the club back where we want it to be."

We asked for your views on Manchester United's 4-2 win over relegation-threatened Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

Here are some of your answers:

Manchester United fans

Christine: The win is papering over the cracks and, as an Erik ten Hag fan, I am finding it more and more difficult to defend him. There is no structure and the players are constantly not turning up for work, Marcus Rashford being one of them. It is a relief that we beat Sheffield United, but the fear is the next game and what team turns up then.

Peter: Shocked - even more shocked than before. I'm glad we scored four goals, but to concede two goals so easily is extraordinary. But, it's United's season. I don't think Ten Hag has complete control of this team, the players are so disjointed and have been all season. Normally it would improve, but amazingly it has actually got worse. Lost for words.

Lucy: Much better than the Coventry game. We are still not there just yet, but Harry Maguire is showing his class once again, Rasmus Hojlund is back on the scoresheet, and we are all talking about Bruno. It's time to sort out the defence and the hesitation now.

Ewan: We got there in the end. A decent win. Bruno had a good game and I was glad to see the real player emerge for one game. I thought there were still frailties and both goals were naive. We still can't control games, even against weak opposition - no disrespect. The highlights for me were Hojlund's goal and Ethan Wheatley's debut. He looks great in the under-18s and we need our youth now!

Sheffield United fans

Rugster: We are playing well in the 5-3-2 formation. We would have been 2-1 up if it wasn't for a dodgy penalty. There were terrible substitutions yet again! Chris Wilder took Archer off for McAtee, so we had to shift to 5-4-1 which hasn't worked all season. We have no out balls and teams batter us when we play like this. Then we swapped to 4-5-1 for the last 20 minutes and we folded. I'm seriously questioning Wilder 2.0.

Bob: Same old, same old. We can’t defend for toffee. Let's see how we get on back in the Championship. I think we need a complete clear out of those both on and off the pitch!

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Wednesday night's four Premier League fixtures as well as the goals from Tuesday's game.

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

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Oli Arblaster became Sheffield United's seventh captain at Old Trafford.

He is by far the youngest.

Yet the midfielder has eased himself into Chris Wilder's starting line-up after spending the first half of the season on loan at a Port Vale side destined for relegation to League Two.

Arblaster has still only made eight Premier League appearances. He is yet to experience what it is like to win.

However, the maturity of his performance is a positive for the future.

He has awareness, energy and a tidy passing game. The experience he is getting now should serve Wilder well in the Championship next term.

Positives have been hard to come by for Sheffield United this season. Arblaster is one.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder to BBC Match of the Day: "It's the story of our season. There's been times when we've been well and truly put to bed. But there's been nights like tonight.

"Add it all up. We went toe-to-toe for 80 minutes, we got ourselves in front a couple of times. But it was the same old things that have come back to haunt us, poor defending.

"I've got to say, I'm really disappointed with a couple of the decisions as well. I think the free-kick, I don't know what my centre-half is supposed to do, just walk out the way? He's nutmegged him, but he can't disappear. That said, we've not really defended that situation as well as we should have done.

"I think he's blown early on the penalty. I think it's a really soft penalty if I'm honest about it. There is always contact in the box. It's a really soft one. Now, you might say they scored. But that's got nothing to do with us. He gave a penalty straight away.

"Yet again, it's a mixed bag. A lot of things are pretty good. A lot of times we get pretty close. But we are here, it's another one we've lost.

"The inevitable will happen, we understand that and accept that. We're in a position where we just have pride to play for. We did that and the supporters recognise that.

"There's bodies in there we can build and rebuild around. Going into next season there's a big rebuild on. We, I, have to make sure we get the culture right.

"We've scored two at Old Trafford and we've come away with nothing. That's something that shouldn't be happening. You should be getting something out of the game."

On Ben Brereton Diaz being a star player for the Blades: "Absolutely spot on, I did my homework on him and knew what he was like as a lad and as a player. He's been outstanding."

Here are the key facts and figures from Manchester United's 4-2 win over Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

• Sheffield United have conceded 92 goals in the Premier League this season, the most by any side in a 38-game campaign in the competition's history.

• Manchester United scored four goals in a Premier League home game for the first time this season, with their last such instance coming in May last year against Chelsea (4-1).

• Manchester United have conceded 50 Premier League goals this season. They have now conceded 50 or more in two of their past three campaigns, having done so in just one of the first 29.

• Bruno Fernandes has scored seven goals in his past six league appearances, as many as he had in his previous 45. With a brace tonight, this is the first time he has scored two or more goals in back-to-back Premier League games.

• Jayden Bogle scored his third league goal of the season, with the others coming against Manchester City and Chelsea. He's just the second Sheffield United player to score against both Manchester clubs in a Premier League campaign, along with Brian Deane in 1992-93.

• Ben Brereton Diaz has scored five goals in just 10 Premier League appearances this season, with only Oli McBurnie netting more for Sheffield United (six in 21 games). The Blades are averaging 1.5 goals-per-game in the league with Brereton Diaz in the side this season, compared to 0.8 without him (including games before his arrival).

Manchester United's chaotic high-scoring form continued at Old Trafford as they twice came from behind to overcome spirited Sheffield United at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund struck in the final nine minutes to ensure the win.

Manchester United captain Fernandes followed up an excellent pinpoint 25-yard drive by hooking back the cross five minutes from time that allowed Hojlund to score his first goal since February.

As in Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Coventry, it was a favourable outcome in the end for under-pressure manager Erik ten Hag.

But there are some staggering statistics to go with their recent results. In total, 27 goals have now been scored in their past five games. They have conceded and scored at least two in all of them.

In entertainment terms, it is sensational. However, there is zero sense of structure and it can only be wondered what new technical director Jason Wilcox made of it as he watched his first game in the Old Trafford directors' box since his appointment was confirmed last week.

After railing against the media the day before the game, labelling coverage of the Coventry match "embarrassing" and "a disgrace", Ten Hag's team failed to follow up by convincing on the pitch.

Without a win since February and with only three in the league all season, Sheffield United led twice, through Jayden Bogle in the first half and Ben Brereton Diaz in the second.

The home side levelled each time, courtesy of Harry Maguire's deft header and Fernandes' penalty.

And Manchester United eventually claimed the points to move back into sixth spot.

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

Manchester United 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 four matches being played in the Premier League on Wednesday, and we will bring you every moment.

All kick-off times BST

Follow live text updates here

Here is a selection of the key facts and figures before Manchester United host Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday (20:00 BST kick-off).

• Manchester United have won just one of their past seven Premier League games and are without a victory in their past four. They last had a longer run without a league win in April/May 2019.

• The Blades have lost their past five midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Premier League games, shipping at least two goals in all four so far this term.

• Manchester United have faced 20 or more shots in each of their past six Premier League games (157 total - 26.2 per game). Only Blackpool have had a longer such run since Opta started collecting data in 2003-04.

• No Sheffield United player has been directly involved in more Premier League goals this season than Gustavo Hamer (four goals, five assists). He is one goal away from becoming only the third player to record five or more goals and five or more assists in a Premier League season for the Blades, after Brian Deane in 1992-93 (15 goals, 10 assists), and Dane Whitehouse in 1993-94 (five goals, six assists).

• Bruno Fernandes has scored five goals in his past five league games, including in the past three. Only once has he scored in four consecutive league games for the Red Devils, doing so in February 2021 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests. For this week's matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, he takes on actor Zack Morris, star of new thriller film Jericho Ridge.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

I am going to predict a Manchester United win here.

There was a guy who was quite abusive to me on X so I promised him I would pick Manchester United victories for the rest of the season, after I backed Coventry to beat them in the FA Cup.

I was nearly correct about Coventry too - as manager Mark Robins put it after their defeat, I was a toenail away from getting that one right.

As much as anything, it was the way Manchester United fell apart after being 3-0 up that was the worry for them on Sunday, but they did get through in the end.

I don't think this is a particularly good game for Erik ten Hag's side to face next though, against the team at the bottom of the table with nothing to lose.

The Manchester United players probably won't relish being expected to win easily again, just as they were against Coventry, but even they should be able to beat Sheffield United - surely.

Zack's prediction: 4-0

You can read the rest of the predictions here

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Chris Wilder has been speaking to the media before Sheffield United take on Manchester United in the Premier League on Wednesday night (20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from the Blades boss:

• On the quick turnaround following the defeat to Burnley: "It is the rearranged game because of Manchester United's progression in FA Cup - so it is what it is. Whether it is a good thing or not, whether we would have preferred a week of preparation leading up to the Newcastle game, or whether we will get back on the bike - we will only know off the back of this on late Wednesday evening."

• Wilder is hoping the Blades "grab the opportunity" to play at Old Trafford, which he describes as "a fabulous place to go and play football", stating: "This is the reason we got promoted to the Premier League, for days and nights like this."

• On taking on Manchester United after they were pushed all the way in their FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City: "Listen, they won't be too bothered internally. They are through to a cup final yet again, so that is twice in two years that they have reached the final, which is a great achievement. People will talk about Manchester United negatively, but it is a huge football club and a fabulous group of players they have got."

• The Blades are "looking to recover" in front of a "full-house" at Old Trafford: "We will expect Manchester United to put out their strongest side and put on a top performance. We are looking to recover from the real disappointment of Saturday afternoon. There is no hiding place - the only way to do that is to get yourself out there and put a proper performance in."

• However, there won't be any players making their return from injury. Wilder admitted that squad morale is "difficult at the minute" because he has a group of players that are "injured" or "out of contract and possibly know their fate". He says he also has "loan players that possibly know they are going back to their parent club" or "young players who are trying to find their feet in the Premier League".

• On whether Ivo Grbic will still be his first choice goalkeeper going forward, Wilder explained: "I haven't spoken to him. He has done a recovery day away from here. Myself and the coaches have had our heads down today, in terms of a game plan and selection. As you can imagine, there are going to be some big decisions on a lot of key positions."

• He added: "Regarding Ivo, there was talk of making a substitution at half-time by certain sections of the support. I could have substituted some more players as well, but I thought I would give them the opportunity to make it right. I don't like making those sort of decisions, but I will and I have done before."

• Lastly, Wilder commented on Nottingham Forest's controversial statement on X about the standard of refereeing in their defeat to Everton: "I've really not got a lot to say about it, with my past track record and where it could lead to! I would rather let all the other experts and pundits comment on it."

Follow the rest of Monday's football news

Ben Meakin
Fan writer

Goalkeeper Ivo Grbic is proving to be an interesting case study in how long you should give a new signing before passing judgement. Signed in January, the man who previously backed up Jan Oblak at Atletico Madrid has endured a nightmare start with United.

Immediately declared the new number one by manager Chris Wilder, Grbic has started eight Premier League games and struggled massively. Some 21 goals have flown, sailed, deflected and squirmed past him in those eight starts. Throw in his debut in the FA Cup and it’s 26 conceded in nine appearances.

Yes, he’s playing behind a historically bad defence – but Grbic still looks significantly worse than our previous keeper, Wes Foderingham.

Foderingham himself has underperformed his Expected Goals on Target (post-shot xG) by 1.5 this season – a short-hand way of saying that he’s conceded one or two goals more than an average keeper should have in the 25 games he’s played. Not good, but not disastrous either. For context, this puts Foderingham right around the Arsenal pair of Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya.

Grbic is underperforming the same metric by an astonishing 8.2 goals. With just eight starts so far, his presence in the team is essentially costing United a goal every single game. Needless to say, this is by far the worst mark in the league.

Worse, Grbic looks shot of confidence – fumbling routine takes and miskicking clearances. It’s hard to know what to do with him – double-down on the commitment that he’s our first-choice for next year and hope he settles in as a viable keeper, or concede that he’s a disaster and try and replace him as soon as possible.

He’s got five more games this season to turn it around, and plenty of our fans will be watching on closely - albeit a few looking through their fingers.

Ben Meakin can be found at BladesPod, external

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Monday, 22 April marks Earth Day - a day in the international calendar that provides the opportunity to reflect, make change and understand more about sustainability and the impacts of climate change.

Sport and football are not immune to these issues and there has been increasing awareness of their relationship to the environment over the past few years.

Football has a global footprint and, as it continues to grow, it has been subject to questions and criticism over some of the decisions that could hinder efforts in reducing its impact, including expanding Uefa cup competitions and the men's Fifa World Cup.

The effects of adverse weather related to climate change has been increasingly felt, with a study last year showing extreme weather has affected 40% of football players and spectators.

But, football and its fanbase also have an opportunity to be part of the solution, with clubs like Forest Green Rovers showing how the sport's environmental footprint can be reduced.

We have taken a look into some of the key things Sheffield United are doing to become more sustainable:

• They are a member of the EFL Green Club, which is a scheme to help clubs improve their environmental practices and operations.

• They have solar panels on the roof at the academy and a programme in place to expand solar energy usage.

• All disposable food packaging is 100% sustainable and compostable and they have replaced all plastic cutlery and stirrers with wooden alternatives.

• Water boreholes are in place at Bramall Lane and the academy to collect water and help with pitch irrigation.

• Club food menus use a minimum of 80% British seasonal fruit and veg.

One important area all Premier League clubs can address to reduce their carbon footprint is their travel, as shown in BBC Sport research.

Why is this important?

Football For Future is a non-profit organisation working with stakeholders across football to create a more environmentally sustainable culture and founder Elliot Arthur-Worsop told BBC Sport: "Climate change will be the defining challenge of our generation, and the future of football will be affected too.

"We're already seeing the impacts, with more than 120,000 English grassroots games being called off annually, and major tournaments such as the World Cup and Afcon being moved because of extreme weather.

"Beyond the pitch, the climate crisis threatens livelihoods and global food and water security.

"With its unparalleled social influence, football has an opportunity to inspire global climate action, from micro-behaviours to essential policy change."

What would you like to see your club do more (or less) of to be greener?

We asked for your views on Sheffield United's defeat against Burnley on Saturday.

Here are some of your answers:

Sheffield United fans

James: If Wilder thinks there was “no lack of fight” then he needs an eye test. Spineless players, Sunday league goalkeeper and a disappointing lack of anger from fans. This club is being run into the ground by an absent owner who doesn’t care and the response is just apathy.

Bob: Absolutely ridiculous. Worst game at the lane I have ever seen! Whole load of players and the manager have to go at the end of the season!

Chris: The irony is is that Burnley were the worst (away) team to visit us all season. We should have been 3-0 up before our keeper needed to make a save. But that's where the issues lie - Grbic is garbage. The biggest cheer before the goal was ironic from the Blades when he managed to save a dribbler.

Burnley fans

Mark: Thought we played well and finally took our chances in front of goal. We played like we were fighting for our lives and we had good spirit. Larsen played well as did Da Silva on the wing and did a good assist. I know some fans have got on his back this season but he's improved game by game. All of the team should be proud of themselves.

Jack: Was an excellent watch in the away end. Excellent atmosphere and certainly gives us a glimmer of hope for survival. It’s a shame that this form has come so late - but better late than never.

Simon: We were very average and still managed to win comfortably, we could have easily conceded two or three but it goes to show the level us and Sheffield United are at. We have a glimmer of hope but no more. I hope we can at least finish the season strong - and who knows?

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's three Premier League fixtures.

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

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games here

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentary in full:

Luton Town 1-5 Brentford

Chris Wilder spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Sheffield United's defeat to Burnley: "McBurnie had to come off with a tight hamstring. Hamer had to come off with a tight calf.

"We understand the magnitude of today's result. Still, as a professional footballer, the way I have been brought up, I like to think they have those qualities and will go to the end. Until it is mathematically there in front of us we have to. I will. My staff will. The players need to do that. We have an obligation to the supporters and the division.

"I don't think there was a lack of fight. It sometimes comes down to when you need to put teams to bed."

• Sheffield United have become just the third team in history to concede 50+ goals at home in an English top-flight campaign, after Aston Villa in 1935-36 (56) and Chelsea in 1959-60 (50).

• Burnley have scored nine goals against Sheffield United in the Premier League this season, the outright most they’ve netted against an opponent in a campaign in the competition (overtaking seven vs Bournemouth in 2018-19).

• Burnley’s Jóhann Gudmundsson scored just 17 seconds after coming on as a substitute, while it was his first strike in the competition since February 2021 v Crystal Palace – ending a run of 50 Premier League appearances without a goal.

• Only Oliver McBurnie in January 2024 (5 games) has had a longer run of either scoring or assisting at Bramall Lane for Sheffield United in the Premier League this season than Gustavo Hamer (3 games - 1 goal, 2 assists).

• Lorenz Assignon became just the second Burnley defender to both score and assist in a Premier League game, after Daniel Fox did so in a 2-1 victory over West Ham in February 2010.

Burnley gave their Premier League survival hopes a huge boost with a vital victory to push bottom side Sheffield United further towards relegation.

A must-win game for both sides went the way of Vincent Kompany's men as clinical finishing allowed them to move just three points off safety, while Chris Wilder's side are now 10 points adrift.

The Clarets were second best for much of the first half with Arijanet Muric making crucial saves to keep his side in the contest, before they scored twice in the space of three minutes.

On-loan Jacob Bruun Larsen broke the deadlock on 38 minutes when his scuffed volley took a deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Ivo Grbic to dribble in at the near post.

In the next attack Burnley doubled their advantage courtesy of full-back Lorenz Assignon weaving through and poking home via Grbic's outstretched leg and the crossbar.

Muric made an outstanding save to deny James McAtee's strike which was bound for the top corner, but he could do nothing about Gustavo Hamer cutting inside and curling in a sumptuous finish to give Sheffield United hope.

But the visitors restored their two-goal advantage following Lyle Foster's tidy, first-time finish from Assignon's cross and substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson added a delightful fourth for a thumping triumph.

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

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

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

Follow all of the reaction here