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'I think Wilder is an excellent appointment'published at 15:38 4 December 2023
15:38 4 December 2023
Andy Giddings, BBC Radio Sheffield Sport
The departure pending of Paul Heckingbottom is harsh. I think Heckingbottom and the staff and players have done as super job in trying circumstances over the past 12 or 18 months. That should be remembered fondly.
Some of the comments over the weekend are wilfully disrespectful and frankly stupid.
Chris Wilder coming in, I appreciate some fans have reticence because of some things in their mind they have from before. My own personal opinion is I think it's an excellent appointment.
When Wilder came in last time he was like a whirling dervish. His manner if you like lifted everybody. In much the same way, that's kind of what they need now. I don't think, should Heckingbottom want a job in football soon that he will need to wait long to get one.
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Heckingbottom set for exitpublished at 09:33 4 December 2023
09:33 4 December 2023
Simon Stone, BBC Sport
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom is set to become the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season within the next 24 hours.
Heckingbottom’s side were hammered 5-0 by relegation rivals Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, since when there has been huge speculation over his future.
It is thought the Blades hierarchy have resolved to make a change, with former boss Chris Wilder amongst the leading contenders to take over.
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'Sheffield United were a disgrace'published at 08:54 4 December 2023
08:54 4 December 2023
Image source, Getty Images
Sheffield United fell to their 11th defeat of the season against fellow relegation battlers Burnley, with striker Oli McBurnie picking up a red card along the way.
Paul Heckingbottom's side are bottom of the Premier League table having won just one of their 14 games so far, conceding a league-high 39 goals.
Newcastle United record goalscorer Alan Shearer has been analysing Sheffield United's performance on Match of the Day: "They were a disgrace. From the very first minute, we saw that they lost three tackles within three or four seconds. That sort of summed them up.
"Also, like the manager said, too many players let them down, in particular when they got that red card."
Former Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy added: "It was a ridiculous red card really because the first yellow card he gets away with one and it could easily be a red card. I think Dara O'Shea does him a favour by not rolling all over the pitch. He took it like a man, if you like, but McBurnie could have been sent off there.
"But then, after getting that lucky break, he decides to lead with his arm again. I mean you are just asking for trouble. When your side is 2-0 down, you need everyone to pull together and, as the manager said, some players have played their way out."
Your views on Saturday's gamepublished at 08:29 4 December 2023
08:29 4 December 2023
We asked for your thoughts on Saturday's game between Burnley and Sheffield United.
Here are some of your comments:
Burnley fans
Miller H: Burnley have almost got points but this win shows how they can get out of the drop zone. Its a real booster for the team and the manager. Football is a game of confidence and Burnley now have it.
Bob: All the chatter can stop now. Keep the faith Burnley fans.
Peter: What a relief! At last we've found our shooting boots and converted good football into goals. Yes, Sheffield United gave us lots of "help" but we were relentless. Great performance - onwards and upwards!
Clarky: Brilliant. I'm buzzing my head off.. now that's what we are about .. that's what we do when we become a unit that runs smoothly and most of all we stick together. That is claret and blue right there. I'm proud to be a Claret. Well done Vincent Kompany.
Peter Dawson: Good overall performance against a very poor Sheffield United. Nice to see Koleosho get a goal his performances have warranted.
Sheffield United fans
David: For the first time in years , I sense we are witnessing the start of a reversal of Sheffield dominance. Wednesday have found a manager who is giving them a winning mentality. In Heckingbottom , we have a loser.
Eric: No passion, no guts, players need to have a long good look at themselves. Probably just cost Heckingbottom his job. Please no Wilder or Warnock.
Simon: Blades have a Championship squad at best. So what’s the point in sacking Heckingbottom? He is a decent manager. Keep him for next season when he should come into his own again.
Brian: Losing heavily again to a side at the bottom end of the league confirms what we already know. The Blades are simply not good enough to be in the Premier League and will surely be relegated. The level of indiscipline, particularly McBurnie is an added problem that must be addressed by Heckingbottom, if he’s still around next week at this time.
Neil: The season is panning out just as I expected. The owner has brought this all on. Will be interesting to see how he intends to improve things if he doesn't get the sale of the club he wants. Totally selfish of him. He is destroying all the great work that was developing through Wilder and Heckingbottom!
Catch up with the weekend's Premier League actionpublished at 08:04 4 December 2023
08:04 4 December 2023
Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures.
If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.
And Match of the Day 2 brings you a round-up of Sunday's games here.
Listen back to Saturday's commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:
When is the FA Cup third-round draw?published at 08:18 3 December 2023
08:18 3 December 2023
Image source, Getty Images
All Premier League and Championship clubs will enter the hat for the FA Cup third-round draw on Sunday, 3 December.
The draw will take place from around 12.55pm GMT, prior to kick-off between Eastleigh and Reading.
The third-round matches are set to be played on the weekend of 6 and 7 January.
Burnley 5-0 Sheffield Utd: Analysispublished at 23:42 2 December 2023
23:42 2 December 2023
Shamoon Hafez, BBC Sport at Turf Moor
The manner in which Sheffield United fell away after going a man down was alarming and leaves manager Paul Heckingbottom clinging on to his job.
Skipper Oli Norwood's powerful drive from long range was pushed away by James Trafford and Cameron Archer blazed over from 12 yards before losing their heads with a show of petulance.
John Fleck received a yellow for a late tackle from behind on Dara O'Shea and Oli McBurnie senselessly struck the Republic of Ireland international twice before the break. In all, the away side received seven yellow cards and a red.
McBurnie's sending off robbed his side of a potential fightback in the second half and with so much on the line, it has to go down as one of the most absurd red cards received considering the situation.
The Blades - who next face a daunting home match against Liverpool on Wednesday - have a huge task on their hands for survival, winning only one of their 14 games so far and conceding a league-high 39 goals.
Burnley 5-0 Sheffield United: What Heckingbottom saidpublished at 17:54 2 December 2023
17:54 2 December 2023
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom speaking to Sky Sports: "We plan and pick a team who can handle and impose ourselves on the game. We wanted to put a marker down in our duels.
"We dangled two legs and we were down within 30 seconds. The second goal was not too much better. Then we lost a man with two yellow cards. We made it easier for Burnley than they would have expected."
On Oli McBurnie's red card: "We all know the rules. You can't appeal the yellows, you have to be careful. You have to know you can't raise your arms."
On playing Liverpool on Wednesday: "Sometimes it's a good thing, we can't be feeling sorry for ourselves. It looked like one or two [players] were towards the end."
On his future at the club: "There has been talk and speculation on that since the start of September. I'm the wrong man to ask. I'll just continue doing what we're doing with the resources we've got.
"I can always hold my head up high. I always give my best. That won't change."
'I don't think Heckingbottom can survive this'published at 17:41 2 December 2023
17:41 2 December 2023
Image source, Getty Images
Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton on Final Score: "I think Paul Heckingbottom is a goner.
"Losing consecutively, and so convincingly, to two relegation rivals in Bournemouth and now today against Burnley, I don't think he can survive that.
"To be humiliated like they were at home to Bournemouth last week, and now to concede five goals today, I think patience will run out."
Burnley 5-0 Sheffield United: Key statspublished at 17:37 2 December 2023
17:37 2 December 2023
Jay Rodriguez scored after 15.8 seconds for Burnley, the 15th fastest goal in Premier League history. The goal came 10 years and one day after he scored after 13.7 seconds for Southampton against Chelsea, the 12th fastest goal in Premier League history.
Burnley’s 5-0 win against Sheffield United represents the joint-largest margin of victory in Premier League history by a team starting the day bottom of the table.
Oli McBurnie became the first Sheffield United player to be sent off twice in a single Premier League season, after also being sent off against Tottenham in September.
Burnley ended a run of nine consecutive defeats at Turf Moor in the Premier League. They are the last of the 92 clubs in England’s top four tiers to win a home league game this season.
Sheffield United have lost 26 of their last 31 Premier League away games (W2 D3). They have also kept just one clean sheet across those 31 matches.
Full-time: Burnley 5-0 Sheffield Unitedpublished at 16:58 2 December 2023
16:58 2 December 2023
Burnley thrashed 10-man Sheffield United to record a significant Premier League win and pile huge pressure on Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom.
The Clarets had lost their past six league games, and all seven at home this term, but moved off the bottom of the table with a priceless second victory of the season over their fellow relegation candidates.
Striker Rodriguez's stooping header from Charlie Taylor's pinpoint cross was the fastest in the top flight this season and gave Burnley a blistering start and a lead which they did not relinquish.
On-loan winger Jacob Bruun Larsen doubled their lead with a cool finish after latching on to Dara O'Shea's long ball over the top as Burnley took total control.
The Blades were visibly frustrated and saw Oli McBurnie sent off for two moments of madness - the striker was fortunate to receive only a yellow card for an elbow into the face of O'Shea, but he inexplicably repeated the act in a separate challenge and was dismissed before half-time.
Burnley were dominant in the second period as Zeki Amdouni confidently drilled in a low finish, Luca Koleosho smashed in at the near post after hitting the woodwork and Josh Brownhill struck a fifth.
Burnley leapfrog their opponents into 18th place, two points adrift of safety, while Sheffield United remain just a point off the foot of the table.
Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?
Blades boss Heckingbottom 'hamstrung by sales'published at 15:34 1 December 2023
15:34 1 December 2023
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom insists he is having "no different conversations" to normal with the board, despite sitting in the Premier League relegation zone after 13 games.
Former Blades striker Danny Webber tells The Football News Show that while Heckingbottom does need to win more matches, their plight this season is a direct result of their transfer activity in the summer.
Media caption,
Burnley v Sheffield United: Sutton's predictionspublished at 13:53 1 December 2023
13:53 1 December 2023
Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.
This week, he takes on All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Claudio Castagnoli.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Who on earth do I go with here?
Burnley have the worst home record in the Premier League, with seven defeats out of seven, while Sheffield United boast the worst away record, with one point from six games so far.
I keep saying the Clarets will get a draw when they play at Turf Moor, and I keep being wrong, but I don't really have much choice this time - I don't really want to back Burnley, but Sheffield United were so bad last week that I don't want to back them either.
Bournemouth beat the Blades 3-1 at Bramall Lane last weekend, but they could have absolutely wiped the floor with them - the scoreline flattered Paul Heckingbottom's side.
So I am going for a draw. If I'm wrong and there is a winner, then it could be a problem for whichever manager does lose.
It is one thing being beaten by the top teams but losing to the teams in and around you is damaging, and would really increase the pressure on Heckingbottom, or Burnley boss Vincent Kompany.
'Things can change at any moment and you are never safe'published at 07:34 1 December 2023
07:34 1 December 2023
Burnley v Sheffield United is a big, big game. Both sides desperately need to get a result, but there is still hope for both teams in the relegation fight.
They have to realise that they can get a run of fixtures at any point. The saving grace is Everton’s big points deduction. At that point, you have to say they have a chance and are back in it. Luton Town are picking up results and Bournemouth are sneaking away, but everything is still around at the moment and nobody is relegated yet.
Both Vincent Kompany and Paul Heckingbottom are still in their jobs because everybody in the two football clubs sees exactly what they are like. They see how much work they put in, their aura around the training ground, how they conduct themselves.
I know both of them and I see their work ethic. They have good support staff, good understanding with the players and that is the reason.
Clubs are trying their best with longevity to continue the journey they are on. That’s the reason they haven’t gone and they believe they can take the club forward.
But things can change at any moment and you are never safe.
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Kompany v Heckingbottom: Who's more at risk of the sack?published at 07:30 1 December 2023
07:30 1 December 2023
Burnley and Sheffield United meet on Saturday having picked up just one win each in the Premier League this season - but the pressure on each manager appears to be different.
Podcasters Natalie Bromley and Phil Ridley tell The Football News Show what the future could hold for Vincent Kompany and Paul Heckingbottom, and why the outcome of this game is more crucial for the Blades boss.
