Sheffield United

Adam Oxley
BBC Radio Sheffield journalist

Image source, PA Media

Sheffield United should forget about the Premier League. They should forget about automatic promotion. They should forget about the play-offs, past and present.

They should forget about Leeds, about Burnley and frankly, about anyone else.

Any Blades success this season now depends on getting their own house in order, from the manager to the players and the fans.

Everyone is asking questions right now, understandably so after three straight defeats in the battle for the top two, with fingers being pointed in every direction.

But the time for ifs, buts, maybes, inquests and recriminations is not now.

Now is the time to regroup, now is the time to put the good, the bad and the ugly to one side (and there were ugly scenes at full-time in Saturday's defeat by bottom club Plymouth Argyle).

Already minds across the fanbase are wandering to the Blades' awful play-off record, having failed eight times to get promoted via the end-of-season lottery. Four times United have made the final, four times they've lost, four times they've failed to score. It makes grim reading.

All runs usually come to an end though, and for all the twists, turns, ups and downs under Chris Wilder, he's never managed the Blades in a play-off campaign.

It took Rory McIlroy 11 attempts to complete golf's career grand slam, and the Northern Irishman now has his richly-deserved green jacket.

Leading from the front has never felt comfortable for the Blades but now they have a backs-against-the-wall narrative under which success has been built by Wilder and others.

Sheffield United have four games left of the regular Championship season, starting with relegation-threatened Cardiff City at Bramall Lane on Good Friday.

The Blades can still achieve everything they wanted to achieve this season and make an immediate return to the top flight, but everyone at the club needs to be on the same page.

Wilder's men need to be ready to strike if Leeds or Burnley falter, and they need to be in a much more positive place on and off the pitch if it is to be the play-offs.

It's been a bad week for the Blades but the players and manager have shown time and time again this season that they have the minerals to find a way to win. They need those minerals now more than ever.

Image source, Rex Features

Boss Chris Wilder says Sheffield United's failure to take their chances cost them once again in the defeat against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

The Blades are now five points off the automatic promotion places after two late goals saw Argyle come from behind to secure a dramatic win.

"The biggest message was to go and be clinical," Wilder said after his side's third defeat in a row.

"We did what we needed to do in getting the first goal. We dealt with the throw-ins and set pieces.

"The first goal goes in, and that quietens the home crowd. But to go and get the second goal would have killed the game.

"We never really showed the quality we should be showing at the top end of the pitch.

"We couldn't have had a worse week in terms of results. The players have to pick themselves up and that's what I was talking about in the huddle afterwards.

"We have not been good enough in the last three games. I don't think it's pressure or nerves. We are just not finding big enough moments. We need a big week now."

Plymouth Argyle welcome Sheffield United for a crucial game at both ends of the Championship table on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

The Pilgrims are five points from safety at the bottom, though seven of their eight victories this season have come at Home Park.

The Blades have lost two on the bounce for the first time since October and are two points behind the automatic promotion places.

• Plymouth have lost seven of their past eight meetings with Sheffield United in all competitions (D1) since a 1-0 Championship win in November 2007. The Pilgrims have lost each of their last five matches against the Blades in a row.

• This will be Sheffield United's first away league game at Plymouth since a 1-0 win in December 2009; only in February 1950 have they ever won successive league visits against them.

• Plymouth have won three of their past six home league games (D1 L2), just one fewer than their first 14 of the season beforehand (W4 D6 L4).

• Sheffield United have lost both of their past two league games, but haven't lost three in a row outside of the Premier League since December 2017.

• Against Millwall last time out, Sheffield United had 25 shots, their most in a single league match since November 2022 against Burnley (28), and their most on Opta's records (from 2013-14) in a league game in which the Blades failed to score.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder and striker Tyrese Campbell have won the respective Championship manager and player of the month awards for March.

Wilder guided the Blades to four wins and a draw last month, picking up 13 points from a possible 15 to keep their automatic promotion bid alive.

Campbell hit an excellent run of form in March, scoring four times at a rate of one goal every 88 minutes.

The pick of the bunch was his stunning effort from range in a 2-1 victory at QPR, while the 25-year-old also made a brilliant run and cross to provide the winner for Rhian Brewster in the Steel City derby.

"As soon as pressure is applied, it becomes such a melting pot.

"I can guarantee you parts of the dressing room will be losing sleep. It's about who deals with that best."

In this week's episode of the 72+ podcast, the team talk about Sheffield United's back-to-back defeats, which have resulted in them dropping from the top of the Championship to outside of the automatic promotion places within the space of three days.

Listen to the full episode and more on the Football Daily podcast.

Image source, PA Media

Chris Wilder admits his Sheffield United side lack quality in front of goal as their automatic promotion hopes took another blow at home to Millwall.

Josh Coburn's 21st minute strike settled the match despite the hosts having 25 shots and more than 65% possession.

The Blades have lost two Championship games in a row and are two points below league leaders Leeds United and Burnley with five games of the season left to play.

"It's been a tough couple of games for us, we didn't do enough on Saturday and paid the price and just shot ourselves in the foot really," Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield after the match.

"The first goal is massive in this division. The goal, from our point of view, there were so many things we could have done better to prevent that.

"I thought the energy from the team was good, we've created enough opportunities [and] we've got the ball where we wanted to get it.

"We've had 25 shots but really when you're looking for that little bit of quality that you need, when we got into those positions we never really found it and fair play to Millwall.

"The quality that we do possess has gone missing tonight at the top of the pitch."

The Blades face Plymouth Argyle (A), Cardiff City (H), Burnley (A), Stoke City (A) and Blackburn Rovers (H) in their remaining games.

"I don't think anybody would have thought that we'd have lost the last two games but we've done that so we have to suffer and to own that and take that on the chin," Wilder added.

"I think I've got enough characters and quality in that group to get us back into a winning run, but it has to come soon and it has to come on Saturday [at Plymouth].

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has been speaking to the media ahead of the game against Millwall on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

Here are the key takeaways from his press conference:

• United will have a fully-fit squad to pick from after Wilder confirmed "everyone is okay", but said that he has some "difficult decisions to make".

• He is considering giving players who "weren't good" in the 1-0 defeat by Oxford United on Saturday "the opportunity to make it right".

• He added that whatever side he puts out will "serve us well and give it a right go towards the end of the season".

• On Millwall manager Alex Neil, Wilder said: "I know [him] really well. He's an experienced operator and we're going to have to overcome stubborn opponents who have fight in them, and harbour ambitions to get into the play-offs".

• As to whether he was happy with the Blades' league position, he said: "It ain't bad, but we could have enhanced it on Saturday. We didn't do that so we analyse, reflect and quickly get over it".

• He added: "We're going to have setbacks in the season and in games, and we're going to have to deal with that now. I'm confident in my belief that this team will go to the end, we'll keep believing and drive this thing forward".

Listen to the full pre-match press conference and more on the Football Heaven podcast.

How does a promoted team stay in the Premier League?

Is it about style? Or does over-spending become a tempting proposition in a bid to stay out of the bottom of three?

Is it all about unearthing transfer "jewels"?

Take a look at a clip below or listen to the Monday Night Club debate in full here

Sheffield United welcome Millwall on Tuesday (19:45 BST) as they look to regain the top spot from rivals Burnley.

The Blades suffered a disappointing loss to relegation-threatened Oxford United on the weekend to relinquish their place at the apex to the Clarets.

However, to take it back they will need to claim victory over the Lions, who will also be looking for maximum points as they try to carve out a place in the play-offs.

• After their 1-0 win in December, Sheffield United are looking to complete their first league double over Millwall since 1983-84.

• Millwall have won just one of their last 14 away league games against Yorkshire clubs (D3 L10), a 4-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday in November 2023.

• Under Chris Wilder, Sheffield United have only lost four of their last 32 home games in the Championship (W24 D4), although three of those have come since Boxing Day 2024.

• Millwall have lost both of their last two away league games without scoring, last losing three in a row on the road without finding the net once back in September 2018.

• Each of Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder's last three home games against Millwall have been 1-1 draws, two with the Blades (Apr 2018, Apr 2019) and one with Middlesbrough (Nov 2021).

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Wilder said that his Sheffield United's "bad decisions" were to blame for their six-match away winning streak coming to a crashing end at Oxford United.

The Blades manager told BBC Radio Sheffield: "We didn't do enough so there's no arguments about the result.

"They started better than us - a team fighting for their lives, they stuck it on us with long throws. We had two or three opportunities before they scored which we should probably take.

"There was an opportunity to gain three points but well done to Gary [Rowett], they deserve their win and obviously an amazing away record comes to an end.

"It's not an attitude problem, we just made some bad decisions. It was a slow pitch, a dry day, and we have to recognise we have to play a little bit quicker and more direct.

"We've got to make better decisions, to do something different. We didn't do the basics right.

"The game's not won on a coupon, the game's won on a pitch, and we didn't do enough to win."

Sheffield United midfielder Vini Souza has been in "training all week" and will be available for their match against Oxford United on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Brazilian has missed the past three league games for the Blades with a hamstring issue.

"To have Vini back in is a massive boost," boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"We are in a good spot. Everybody wants their team to be fit and healthy."

Souza returns alongside midfielder Jamie Shackleton, with both Tom Davies and right-back Harry Clarke due back within the next week.

But questions have begun to arise about the players out of contract at the end of the season - including striker Rhian Brewster.

Brewster joined the Blades in 2020 but has spent much of his time in the recovery room.

However, the 25-year-old has been impressive lately, scoring in both his past two league matches.

"You have to do what's right for the football club and Rhian has do what's right for himself," Wilder said.

"I'd like to think with his reaction and how he's been and how he's been around the place and his attitude towards everything, he wants to stay here.

"As far as I'm concerned, I don't see a player who doesn't see his immediate medium term future at Sheffield United but, as you know, contract situations and talks can become quite complicated."

Listen to the full pre-match press conference and more on the Blades Heaven podcast.

Championship leaders Sheffield United could find themselves out of the automatic promotion places by the time they kick-off at Oxford United on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Blades have a two-point lead over Leeds and Burnley with seven games remaining but both the Whites and Clarets play at 12:30 BST, visiting Luton and Coventry respectively.

After a bright start under Gary Rowett, the U's have hit the skids, winning just one of their past 11 games, though that did come in their last home game, beating Watford 1-0.

Chris Wilder's side have won six straight away games, all by the odd goal, which is their best run on the road in 132 years.

• Oxford United have lost nine of their past 10 games in all competitions against Sheffield United (W1), including a 3-0 defeat earlier this season.

• This is Sheffield United's first league visit to Oxford since March 2017 in League One, winning 3-2 with two goals from Billy Sharp and one from Kieron Freeman.

• Oxford have won one of their past 11 league matches (D4 L6), having won five of their previous seven matches beforehand.

• Sheffield United have won each of their past six away league games – they've never previously won seven in a row on the road (also six in the 1892-93 season).

• Rhian Brewster has scored in each of his past two Championship appearances for Sheffield United – he's never scored three in games in a row in his league career.

Adam Oxley
BBC Radio Sheffield journalist

Image source, Rex Features

Scoring the winning goal in a Steel City derby guarantees anyone a place in Sheffield football folklore, and striker Rhian Brewster is the latest player to join that exclusive club.

Sheffield United's club-record signing followed his winner at Hillsborough with the clinching goal against in-form Coventry City to take the Blades top of the Championship after the international break, with just seven games left to play.

It was Brewster's first goal at Bramall Lane in over three years, and it took his tally in red and white to just nine goals since making a £23.5 million move from Liverpool in October 2020.

A lot of pressure was heaped on the then 20-year-old's shoulders as Sheffield United sought a third season in the Premier League but Brewster failed to score in 27 league appearances and the club was relegated.

What followed was a string of serious injuries, limiting the England youth international to few appearances over the next three seasons as the Blades yo-yoed between the second tier and the top flight, before last summer brought a fresh start for both club and player.

Brewster has not been a regular starter this season but the Coventry City match was his 30th league appearance, the most he has managed in a single campaign during his near five-year stay at Bramall Lane.

The now 25-year-old has not just managed to stay fit for the majority of this season, but he's finally finding the back of the net and providing assists from an attacking-midfield role in the 4-2-3-1 formation introduced by manager Chris Wilder last summer.

The big question now surrounds Brewster's future, and opinions are split about a new deal with his current contract about to end.

Slow burn is an understatement when describing Brewster's Sheffield United career, some have even described it as a disaster given the significant sum the club paid for his services, so has he finally, eventually done enough to extend his stay?

It would be easy for the Blades to cut their losses this summer, given the forward's injury record and poor goals return over time, but I'd be tempted to offer him at least another year at the club, either as a Premier League or a Championship player.

Brewster is well liked in the United dressing room by players and staff, and having invested so much time, money and effort in his development, it could be a real kick in the teeth if he finally delivers on his enormous promise, but with another club.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder says he has "an enormous amount of respect" for "class act" Coventry City boss Frank Lampard as the Blades prepare to host the Sky Blues on Friday (20:00 GMT).

After a difficult start to the season under Mark Robins, the Sky Blues have flourished under Lampard to reach the play off places and have won six of their past seven league games.

"I just love the fact that he loves football and it shines through that he does, whatever job he takes," Wilder said.

"People are critical of him and I just don't get it. He could quite easily manage England in my opinion.

"It's proving to be an inspired choice of manager."

However, Lampard is not Coventry's only strength according to Wilder.

"Coventry City have arguably one of the best groups of players in this division and that's being shown now," the Blades boss added.

"They are steaming through everybody so we understand the challenges of what they bring.

"Their support is amazing. It's a real powerful football club, good manager and real strong set of talented footballers so this is a major test for us on Friday night."

The Blades have been boosted by the returns of Vini Souza, Alfie Gilchrist and Jamie Shackleton to training.

However, while Harry Clarke and Tom Davies "are making good progress", they are not expected to return to the grass for a further "week to 10 days".

Listen to the full pre-match press conference and more on the Football Heaven podcast.