Sheffield United

One of the most intriguing games of the weekend takes place at the Riverside on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST) as a fairytale start and a nightmare start converge.

New boss Rob Edwards' Middlesbrough have won all three games and sit joint-top of the early Championship table with Stoke whereas Ruben Selles, the new man in the Sheffield United dugout, has overseen three defeats to leave the Blades bottom of the table with only pointless Oxford United for company.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their past eight home league games against Sheffield United (W6 D2), keeping six clean sheets across that stint since a 2-1 defeat in October 1997.

• After winning their last meeting with Middlesbrough 3-1 in February, Sheffield United will be looking to claim successive victories over Boro for the first time since September 2006 (three wins).

• Middlesbrough have won each of their opening three league games this season and will be looking to win their opening four for the first time since 1994-95, a season during which they were promoted to the Premier League.

• Sheffield United have lost each of their opening three league games this season, last losing four in succession to open a campaign outside the top-flight in 1995-96.

• Middlesbrough have lost each of their last three league games against sides from Yorkshire, last enduring a longer run against sides from the county between February and April 2022 (four games).

Former Middlesbrough right-back Tommy Smith believes Danny Ings' move from West Ham to Sheffield United is exactly what they need.

Ings joins the Blades this week on a one-year contract after he was released by the Hammers.

"It's a decent move for Sheffield United. The one thing that they do need is a bit of experience in the group, I think Danny Ings will bring that," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"The key element for him is keeping himself fit which I believe he has done for the last couple of years, he's just not had the game time that he probably craves and hopefully he gets that at Sheffield United."

The Blades, sit bottom of the Championship and are without a point having scored just the one goal in their three league defeats and Smith says Ings will get chances to score at the club.

"I've played against Danny numerous times and one thing he is, is a goalscorer, there's no doubt about that. Give him the opportunities - which I do believe Sheffield United will give him," he added.

"For the poor start that Sheffield United have had, they've got good players. They are a team that will create chances so I think the signing is a good one."

Sheffield United have taken former England internationals Danny Ings, 33, and Nathan Redmond, 31, on trial, the pair having previously worked with Ruben Selles at Southampton. (Sheffield Star, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Sheffield United have agreed a fee with Millwall for defender Japhet Tanganga, with the 26-year-old having been left out of the Lions side which won at Bramall Lane on Saturday as the deal edged closer. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.

Naz Premji
Final Score reporter at Bramall Lane

Image source, Getty Images

So, a summer of change at Bramall Lane saw manager Chris Wilder replaced by Ruben Selles, a number of top players leave, AI driven recruitment and a poor start to the Championship campaign.

Add to that the exit at Birmingham in the Carabao Cup and an on-pitch post-match dressing down on the opening day, it has not been the best start to the US owners' reign.

Key questions are: what is the plan for success? Who agreed it? Is everyone on board?

From a fans' point of view I think they need one of the hierarchy to answer these and other questions so that everyone gets on the same page, whatever that may be.

Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles admitted a third league defeat in three has left them in a "tough situation" after losing 1-0 to Millwall.

The Blades have lost all four games this season, including in the Carabao Cup against Birmingham City, and find themselves bottom of the Championship.

"Right now we are in a tough situation," Selles told BBC Radio Sheffield. "We need to start to show a bit more especially in the beginnings of the game. We can't wait to go behind before we start our game.

"I am not about to open the book of excuses. It is me as the first one to do my job better it is always like that. After analysing my performance and what I want to do with the team comes the rest.

"We created enough situations but it is about how we do it. We have the quality and the positions but sometimes football is like that."

"It's a tough one to take. In the first half we were not the team we want to be. The second half was completely different and we played a game of football. We created situations to score and recognise the team we want to be.

"I didn't change a bit in the half time. It was our application that changed."

Sheffield United's new loan signing Ben Godfrey may be set to make his debut against Millwall on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Manager Ruben Selles has been looking to make defensive reinforcements to his squad this transfer window with the Blades conceding five goals in their first two games.

Alex Neil's Millwall will hope to bounce back from the "most Millwall of results" in their 3-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough last time out.

• Since 2005, Sheffield United have won just two of their 10 home league games against Millwall (D4 L4), losing this exact fixture 1-0 at Bramall Lane last season.

• Millwall have won four of their last six league games against Sheffield United (L2), with each of those victories coming via a one-goal margin.

• Sheffield United have lost six of their last nine league games (W2 D1), as many defeats as across their prior 39 outings combined (W26 D7).

• After opening their Championship account with a 2-1 win at Norwich City, Millwall are looking to win their first two away league games of a campaign for the first time since 1995-96.

Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles said the club will likely bring in two defenders ahead of their Championship fixture against Millwall on Saturday.

The Blades have been heavily linked with Atalanta's Ben Godfrey and Millwall's Japhet Tanganga, who have Premier League experience with Everton and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

Selles is keen to get any new signings involved as soon as possible. "There is a chance for them to be involved at the weekend," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

He also did not rule out other additions to the Blades squad.

"We have eleven first-team players from last season who left the club. We replaced them with three loans and players who still need some time to be able to perform for Sheffield United. So realistically, we still need some more players in," he said.

Ahead of the Millwall game, Selles wants his players to sharpen up as they attempt to win their first league game of the season, after defeats by Bristol City and Swansea City.

"Our discipline when we lost the ball was not ideal, so we were punished. We need to be more robust in our defensive transition."

Of the fans, Selles said: "We need them more than ever.

"Go on Saturday, support the team and support the boys. It's not going to be easy. It's not going to be simple, but they're going to see a team that is 100% giving itself a good chance to win the game."

Listen to Selles' full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Sheffield United are leading the race for Millwall defender Japhet Tanganga, with Italian clubs Sassuolo and Verona seeing bids rejected earlier in the window for the 26-year-old, who is valued around £7m (Sky Sports, external)

The Blades are also set to sign one-time England and former Everton defender Ben Godfrey, 27, on loan from Serie A side Atalanta. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

Adam Oxley
Journalist, BBC Radio Sheffield

Image source, Getty Images

It's hard to believe that it's less than three months since Sheffield United were 15 minutes away from an immediate return to the Premier League.

Hopes of another top-flight tilt have quickly been replaced by infighting between Blades supporters with frustrations directed at manager Ruben Selles and owners COH Sports, in fairly equal measure.

The decision to part ways with Chris Wilder after securing 92 points and reaching the Championship play-off final was always going to be divisive and seen as a major gamble, with supporters of the boyhood Sheffield United fan seemingly ready to pounce on any whiff of trouble this season, if social media reaction is anything to go by.

And with the Blades bottom of the second tier after two league games, and having lost all three matches this season including the Carabao Cup defeat at Birmingham City, there's more than a whiff of concern in the Bramall Lane air.

Last week Selles described the club's summer recruitment so far as not good enough, with key players Vinicius Souza, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Kieffer Moore all sold without being replaced.

The Spaniard told us he wants five more players before the transfer window closes, and he wants players ready to perform in the Championship now, not just prospects for the future.

Having rolled the dice in the managerial hotseat as part of a new chapter "aimed squarely at bringing sustainable success" in the Premier League, the Blades' board has two weeks to give their man the tools he says he needs to deliver their lofty aspirations.

Any hopes of a honeymoon period for Selles were swiftly ended when United lost their opening Championship game 4-1 at home to Bristol City – a side the Blades had thrashed 6-0 over two legs in the play-off semi-finals in May.

But that result and poor defensive performance was compounded in South Wales last weekend as United lost 1-0 at Swansea City.

Arguably the club's best current starting 11 failed to muster a single shot on goal, with questions raised over the players' body language during the game and a video circulating on social media after the match appearing to show star midfielder Gus Hamer arguing with a supporter in the away end.

Some Blades fans have already called for Selles to be sacked, but is it fair to judge the Spaniard so early in his tenure, and before the end of the transfer window?

I'd argue not, but both Selles and the club's American owners need a positive and productive few weeks to reassure fans that this summer's overhaul is worth the risk.

Sheffield United are keen to add former Brentford defender Ben Mee to their squad. (The Star), external

Mee was released by the Bees at the end of last season.

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Molly Stephens
Final Score and 5 Live Sport reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Swansea City's season is up and running with a win that was thoroughly deserved after countless chances for the hosts.

What was clear is that Sheffield United's brief was "defend" and Swansea City's was "attack".

This was made clear by a huge contrast in the opportunities in front of goal - Ruben Selles' side did not manage a single shot on target in the whole game.

Swansea goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux didn't have a save to make. No, the table doesn't matter right now, but it's hard to believe the Blades, who are rock bottom, were playing in the play-off final a matter of months ago.

Their opponents that day, Sunderland, have recorded their first win in their first game back in the top-flight.

Meanwhile Sheffield United lacked any sort of threat in front of goal.

The players looked completely dejected at full time, and that was only exacerbated when you see the faces of the clearly frustrated fans, who travelled 239 miles to watch their team come nowhere near a point in the 27 degree heat in South Wales.

Swansea, meanwhile, were dominant from the get-go.

Alan Sheehan's side thoroughly deserved the win. Chances in double figures, but, perhaps you'll then wonder, why not more than one goal?

Well it's the age old issue. They lack an out-and-out striker. Now that is no disrespect to Wales international Liam Cullen who played up front for the Swans against the Blades, but he is playing out of position trying to lead the attack as a nine, and is better with someone alongside him.

It's clear an additional striker is needed. Just the 16 days until Deadline Day.

But take nothing away from a game full of chances and a fanbase buoyed by an encouraging attacking performance.

Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles stressed the importance of staying calm during games after seeing his side beaten 2-0 by Swansea.

Selles' reign has begin with back to back league defeats, leaving The Blades bottom of the table after reaching the play-offs under Chris Wilder last term.

"The first half was an even game. Then in the second half they broke our pressure a couple of times, especially around our right-hand side," the former Hull boss told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"We tried to adjust the pressure and didn't work in the way that we wanted. In an offensive throw, they scored a goal from our own throw-in.

"The game became difficult for us and then we were not good enough arriving into the final third and trying to create more situations. We must remain calm in all we do."

United will be at home to Millwall in their next game on Saturday.