Sheffield United

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has been speaking to the media before their FA Cup third round tie at Gillingham on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• Wilder refused to comment on the reports that a deal for Villarreal striker Ben Brereton Diaz is close to being completed.

• But he added: "We are still working on some targets that will aid us in the second part of the season."

• Wilder confirmed it will not be "six, seven or eight players coming in" but two or three and those players must be good enough to go "straight into the team" to help make them better.

• On a search for a new goalkeeper: "I am assessing all the squad. It is you guys that come up with the names and positions. From when I have taken over, I have never once mentioned anything position specific or from a name point of view."

• Asked about players leaving the club, he added: "There is always something to play for as a player - some grab that opportunity and some do not. You have to make those decisions pretty quickly."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentary of Gillingham v Sheffield United at 15:00 on Saturday

• This is the first FA Cup meeting between Gillingham and Sheffield United, and their first encounter in any competition since a 2-2 draw in January 2017 in League One.

• Gillingham have lost nine of their past 11 FA Cup ties against Premier League opponents, with the exceptions being a 3-2 win over Charlton Athletic in 2003-04 and a 1-0 win against Cardiff City in 2018-19.

• The Blades have progressed from 18 of their past 19 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division than them, with the exception being a 1-0 loss to non-league Barnet in 2018-19.

• Gillingham's Tom Nichols has been involved in eight goals in his past seven FA Cup appearances, scoring five and assisting three. He’s also either scored (two) or assisted (one) a goal in three of his four appearances against Premier League sides in the competition.

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentary of Gillingham v Sheffield United at 15:00 GMT on Saturday

Sheffield United are close to signing Villarreal's 24-year-old Chile forward Ben Brereton Diaz on loan for the rest of the season. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Some 14 FA Cup ties will be available to either watch or listen to live on the BBC over third round weekend, which runs from 4 January to 8 January.

We'll bring you four televised matches across BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Red Button - with all also available to watch on the BBC Sport website and app.

And you'll also be able to listen to 12 commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

Thursday, 4 January

• Crystal Palace v Everton (20:00) - 5 Live

Friday, 5 January

• Fulham v Rotherham United (19:30) - 5 Sports Extra

• Tottenham v Burnley (20:0) - 5 Live

Saturday, 6 January

• Millwall v Leicester City (12:30) - 5 Sports Extra

• Sunderland v Newcastle United (12:45) - 5 Live

• Gillingham v Sheffield United (15:00) - 5 Live

• Southampton v Walsall (15:00) - 5 Sports Extra

• Middlesbrough v Aston Villa (17:30) - 5 Live

• Chelsea v Preston (17:30) - 5 Sports Extra

Sunday, 7 January

• Peterborough v Leeds United (14:00) - 5 Live

• Luton Town v Bolton Wanderers (14:00) - 5 Sports Extra

Monday, 8 January

• Wigan v Manchester United (20:15) - 5 Live

All kick-off times listed are GMT

Ben Meakin, BladesPod, external

After a disappointing festive period where Sheffield United twice let leads slip in games that looked won, the FA Cup provides a welcome distraction from our rock-bottom placing in the Premier League table.

Last season was the point where I swore never to turn my nose up at a cup run again, as United successfully juggled a journey to an FA Cup semi-final with a powerful end to the season in the league that saw us comfortably clinch promotion.

That seemed to dispel any of the old adages about cup runs being a distraction from league form. And, of course, United have little league form of which to speak at this stage.

Opta’s model, external has the Blades as 98% likely for relegation following our latest Premier League defeat - so really, what’s to lose by having a go in the FA Cup?

That’s not to say that the strongest United side will automatically beat Gillingham in the third round - although a game against League Two's lowest scorers is about as kind a draw as possible at this stage.

I'll be really disappointed if we're not at least treating this game as the starting point for salvaging some pride out of 2023-24.

Sheffield United are pushing to sign Villareal and Chile striker Ben Brereton Diaz, 24, as well as Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, 37, from Anderlecht. (Mail, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

We asked for your thoughts on what business Sheffield United need to do during the January transfer window.

Here are some of your replies:

Mike: We must have a vision. Either focus on building for next season, signing a couple of young players and try to sort out our dreadful contract situation, or sign two or three players who will make a difference to this season in key positions such as goalkeeper and up front. Personally, I'd go for the first option, but I only want to have a clear strategy.

Stuart: A new keeper. Wes did really well last year and is a great shot stopper, but more and more mistakes are creeping in. We need more quality, we have so little of the ball, we need better players to hold onto the ball and create.

Matt: Strengthen our defensive midfield as our combo of Norwood and Souza is poor. We need to offload at least four players, we have four left wing-backs in the club, including a loan, getting rid of Larouci and Thomas is a must. A Premier League-quality keeper for the long term would go a long way too. Players back from injury and signing out-of-contract players would help so much.

Sheffield United want to sign a goalkeeper on loan in January, with Anderlecht's 37-year-old Denmark international Kasper Schmeichel a potential target. (Sun), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

With the transfer window about to open again, we want to know what business you think Sheffield United need to do.

Who should they buy? Who should they sell? And who should they keep?

Have your say here

Former Sheffield United striker Carl Asaba believes new Blades manager Chris Wilder has "so much to adjust before he can put his real stamp on the team".

United lost 2-0 at Manchester City on Saturday and remain seven points from safety.

"I know the manager and the players and they're going to be seething because both goals were stoppable," he told BBC Radio Sheffield's Blades Heaven podcast.

"The first goal, you wouldn't accept that against any team. For it to be allowed to happen against Manchester City of all teams, a team who you get beaten by if you throw yourself in.

"You have to be committed, stop them running at you, stop them shooting. You have to do something a little bit over the top - not the opposite, backing off and backing off and giving one of the best midfielders in the world a free shot.

"The manager doesn't want to be pulling them up - it should be second nature. Someone's running at the goal, stop them - it's simple.

"He's got so much to adjust before he can put his real stamp on the team because these are basic things that shouldn't be happening.

"Every time the ball went back to the keeper's feet it was horrible. These are things you don't need. You should be comfortable with the ball and making tackles at Premier League level."

Listen to Blades Heaven on BBC Sounds

We asked you for your post-match thoughts after Manchester City and Sheffield United locked horns on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.

Here are some of the top comments:

Man City fans

Tim: City were sublime. Sheffield United were resilient but just couldn’t keep up.

Godfrey: I am 100% sure that my team Manchester City will win the Premier League.

Adam: This match won't live long in the memory, but it's exactly the kind of nondescript win City needed. A first clean sheet in the league for two months is also very welcome.

Eric: Second half was the most boring game I have ever watched. Our goal average is not great. I hope it doesn’t come to that.

Sheff Utd fans

Stephen: Not enough quality - they were preparing for the Championship before the season began! Who sells their best players before a ball has been kicked? Add on bad luck and you are doomed. As a Blades fan, it is normal service!

Liv's Dad: We offer little in the way of attack. We struggle to play out and Wes Foderingham seems to lump it long. No real threat up front so teams probably don't even look at our line-up.

Pete: Getting a little better but, truthfully, they are going to be relegated if they don’t get some wins soon.

Tom: I am tired of watching the Blades giving passive performances and being seemingly happy with low-score defeats. We look like a League Two side at present and it is very sad to see.

John: City never broke sweat - it was like a training game.

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

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

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 3-2 Burnley

• Nottingham Forest 2-1 Manchester United

BBC Sport's Chris Bevan at Etihad Stadium

They may be bottom of the table and seven points adrift of safety with the worst goal difference by some distance of any top-flight team, but Sheffield United’s current mood is certainly not one of doom and gloom.

No Premier League team has stayed up after earning as few points as the Blades have from their first 20 games but, speaking after his side’s defeat at Manchester City, boss Chris Wilder seemed up for the fight, and says his players are too.

While it is clear the Blades need to improve to have a chance of climbing out of the bottom three, Wilder thinks that will happen in January, when he works with his squad, gets some key players back and makes some signings.

“We have got an important FA Cup tie [against Gillingham] that we are going to attack and then we have got Premier League games coming up at the back end of the window,” Wilder, who took charge on 6 December, said.

“Hopefully in terms of personnel we will have the likes of Anel [Ahmedhodzic] and Gus [Hamer] back, and James Mcatee too, who are three huge players for us and walk into our team.

“Plus we will have Tom Davies a little bit closer to fitness, a player who has got Premier League experience, and there will be more minutes for Rhys Norrington-Davies and Rhian Brewster, and also Olie McBurnie after the injuries he’s had.

“And then on top of that, we are looking at bringing two or three in.

“So, I 100% believe that the group will be stronger the next time we turn out in the Premier League [against West Ham on 21 January] through precious time on the training ground, through additions to the group and through players that will be available.

"We go again, and let’s have a right go in the second part of the season.”

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder speaking to BBC Match of the Day about the daunting task of facing Man City: "It is when you walk out and they have five trophies staring at you! There is a reason they have those trophies. It's a really difficult one even for teams that are close to City. There's a big difference between the clubs in terms of what they put out and the quality they possess. I have full amount of respect for Pep [Guardiola] and the players and their attitude to the game. We tried to be pragmatic and stay in the game as the majority of teams do at the Etihad and we have to take those half chances in big moments and we didn't.

"I'm looking on reflection on six games and I've been delighted with the players' attitude and how they've worked with what we've had to do. Now we have an FA Cup game and a few days we can work on the training ground, I'm sure we can get better in the second part of the season.

"It was quite a long afternoon for everybody connected to Sheffield United. We have some young players that will learn from this experience. There's not a lot of Premier League experience in the group so we can take something from the game but I'm looking at the six games I've had in charge and we've had some incredible challenges. We're a bit disappointed that we've not taken more points, we've had a couple of missed opportunities.

"A bit of adjustment in January will make us stronger and better. They're strong together and that's easy to see, this is a group that have a great attitude and now we need to get better in our play in and out of possession.

"There's a fight in us, we have to be competitive and narrow the gap. There's a fight in us and I'm clearly seeing that and the supporters are too. We need to be better at the other parts of the game, away from the fight. We've conceded some poor goals but when the players walk off they have left everything out there."

On plans to do business in January: "Yes, we've had some meetings on recruitment. It's been very positive, hopefully in that players will move out and you don't want to carry anybody so there will be some going out and some coming in to make us better. It's the first time in the Premier League for a lot of these players and we'll take it game by game."

• Manchester City have remained unbeaten at the Etihad in all competitions in 2023 (P28 W25 D3).

• Manchester City’s 938 successful passes against Sheffield United is the second-most on record in a Premier League game (since 2003-04), behind their own record of 942 against Swansea City in April 2018. Indeed, their 81.8% possession figure was their highest in a Premier League game since May 2021 against Newcastle United (82.1%).

• Of the 12 occasions a top-flight side has recorded fewer than 10 points from their first 20 league games of a season (including 3 points for a win), 25% of those occasions have been Sheffield United (6 points in 1975-76, 8 points in 2020-21 and 9 points in 2023-24).

• Manchester City recorded their first clean sheet in the Premier League since beating Manchester United 3-0 in October, ending an eight-game run without one.

• Phil Foden assisted both goals against Sheffield United – it’s just the third time he’s provided multiple assists in a Premier League game, previously doing so against Southampton in March 2021 and Leeds United in April 2022.

Manchester City ended a stellar year on a high note by beating a battling Sheffield United side to move within two points of Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Rodri gave the defending champions an early breakthrough when he latched on to Phil Foden's neat pass and fired into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the area.

The Blades' packed defence meant City had to wait to add a second but Foden was the provider again when it arrived midway through the second half, with his low cross despatched by Julian Alvarez.

Were you at the match or did you take it in from home?

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Submit your post-match thoughts here, Sheffield United supporters

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

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All times are GMT.