Sheffield United

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."

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."

• 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.

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.

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There are five games being played out in the Premier League on Saturday and we'll bring you every moment.

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Live commentaries:

Arsenal v Wolves - BBC Radio 5 Live

Nottingham Forest v Everton - BBC Radio 5 Live

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.

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.

Claudio's prediction: 0-2

Read the rest of their predictions here

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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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.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Katie Catherall, BBC Sport

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom has been speaking to the media before his side face Burnley on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the role that fans play in motivating the team: "Our fans have been great, they're good at home and away. Fans know the importance they play at home, we want to make it a tough place to come."

• Heckingbottom said it is important to "keep momentum going", even when members of the squad are injured.

• On games after the international break: "Everyone is asking if the international break was at a good time – there's arguments go both ways. It comes at the time when you know it will, we have to plan for that and get the most out of the boys. We did what we could to get everyone ready for the Bournemouth game."

• On tactic changes after the defeat to Bournemouth: "We dropped below our standards, we were too sloppy. We won't win games in this league like that. We worked, the effort was there, we ran further than them, the furthest distance we've covered this season. But we gave the ball away too much and we got that wrong."

• Heckingbottom confirmed that Rhys Norrington-Davies has been in training: "Day by day we'll increase what he does, he's on his own programme and using us when he needs. What he needs is football, so we're testing and training."

• On Oli McBurnie's return: "He benefited from that 45 mins of play but you could see he'd been out. He's had another week of training which is good - he's in a much better place this week."

• Heckingbottom was asked if he is facing pressure from the board to secure a victory: "No different conversations to normal. There's pressure from us because we want to win. I expect us to go out and win. We do it our way, Burnley have spent money, but while they were spending we used our academy and worked hard."

• On having to regularly change the squad: "We’ve changed every game because we’ve had to, I'd love to get some consistency and start working with the same group of players every week on the training ground. Unfortunately one of our issues is there’s been too many enforced changes, whether that’s selling players, recruiting late, getting injuries, we need that to settle down."

• On expectations against Burnley: "We expect to win games. We put in work on the training ground. We're still in the same league as them so it shows we’re doing things right and we’ll continue to think that way."

• On facing Vincent Kompany: "Kompany is still sticking to his principles, he's finding it more difficult, it's a more difficult league. While there’s been a slight change in his shape he’s tried to stick to his principles and play the same way."

This is BBC Sport's dedicated Sheffield United page. Hit the bell icon on the app to receive notifications or press 'Follow' if you are on a browser to bookmark the page.

• Burnley have won four of their past five home league games against Sheffield United (D1), beating them 2-0 at Turf Moor in the Championship last season.

• The Blades have never lost a Premier League game against sides starting the day bottom of the table (W4 D7) - their last being a 1-1 draw with Fulham in October 2020.

• Clarets winger Luca Koleosho has had more touches in the opposition box than any other player who is yet to score in the Premier League this season (48).

• Sheffield United have lost 25 of their past 30 Premier League away games (W2 D3).

• Burnley have lost all seven of their Premier League home games this season and could become the first team in English Football League history to lose their first eight in a campaign.

Only once in the past 10 years have we waited until the new year before the first managerial sacking in the Premier League. So with no bosses getting the boot so far in 2023-24, what is going on?

Former Blackpool and Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway tells The Football News Show that teams coming up with a distinctive style is contributing to the low attrition rate and adds why he believes longevity is beneficial for all clubs.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Image source, Getty Images

Former Sheffield United defender Phil Jagielka has announced his retirement from football at the age of 41.

The Englishman, who played for Stoke as recently as last season, played for the Blades for seven years, as well as making 40 appearances for England.

“All good things come to an end and after just over 800 appearances my playing career is done," Jagielka said on Instagram.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would get to play football at the highest level for some amazing clubs as well as my country.

“It’s been an absolute honour to step onto the grass for every match and I have so many people to thank for that.

"I would like to thank every player, manager, coach, member of staff and fan who has played their part in my long football journey. I'll be forever grateful for your support"

Ben Meakin, BladesPod, external

The pressure is mounting on manager Paul Heckingbottom, but Sheffield United have approached promotion in such a counterintuitive way that I wonder if the club will retain him as boss regardless of how the next few weeks go.

Defeat by Bournemouth leaves the Blades seven points behind the Cherries. Given that it's taken us 13 games to cobble together five points, that already looks like a near-insurmountable gap to a supposed relegation rival.

It’s fair to say that Heckingbottom has been dealt a bad hand this season with the players who left, the ones who’ve been brought in (although he had at least some say in that) and the injuries. He also clearly didn’t tell Wes Foderingham to gift Bournemouth a second goal, or for Luke Thomas to inexplicably leave a drop-ball for the Cherries to counter and score from. But both errors are typical of a poorly drilled side lacking clarity of thought.

However, it’s also fair to expect more out of the team than the lifeless, hopeless performances we’ve sat through for most of the season so far. Persisting with the Norwood-Souza axis of uncreativity is one thing, but having two shots in the first half against Bournemouth – both snapshots from distance – is pathetic. Sadly, it’s also not an outlier for us this season.

Rightly or wrongly, I’m sure the vast majority of other clubs would have changed manager by now. However, United have approached this season with such a prioritisation of off-field matters (allegedly with a view to selling the club) that I can foresee the hierarchy choosing to just ride out the rest of the campaign with Heckingbottom rather than fork out for a change.

Oddly, I can see the logic in such an approach. If this season is a lost cause anyway, why change manager when the best-case scenario is probably a 19th-place finish? It might well be better to spend the next seven months getting things lined up for next season - whether that’s with Heckingbottom or a new manager.

Unfortunately, though, that is likely to mean another 25 games of pain for fans who’ve had very little to smile about since promotion was clinched last spring.

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