Sheffield United

Sheffield United will continue their football exploits at the Championship level next season. They remain rooted to the bottom of the table in 20th place - already relegated mathematically. They had a stellar 2019/2020 season in which they finished in 9th place under the guide of former boss, Chris Wilder. But everything fell apart this season. They have since parted ways with the 53-year-old after a string of poor results. However, not much has changed. They have 5W, 2D & 26L and remain the lowest scoring side in the league (0.55 g/g) with 18 goals. Being the third highest conceding side with 56 goals, they have a GD of -38. Sheffield had lost four games in a row but last week, they defeated Brighton & Hove Albion by a lone goal, scored by David McGoldrick (19'). The win leaves them with a form that reads: LLLLW (Premier League). Interim coach, Paul Heckingbottom will be looking for at least a draw on Sunday as the Blades have only their pride to play for. A 3—4—1—2 formation with McGoldrick and Brewster is expected when Sheffield United with 17 points make another Premier League appearance. According to reports, Chris Wilder may return as coach of Sheffield United. Paul Heckingbottom and Alexander Blessin have also been shortlisted for the permanent position.

Sheffield United have been poor all season, but they sank to a new low last Sunday when they lost 4-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. More like a dull knife, the Blades were well below par right from the very start of the game and it was evident it wouldn’t take much time before they conceded. Rightly so, Gareth Bale (36’) found the back of the net - flicking the ball over Sheffield’s goalkeeper minutes after shooting over the cross-bar. The Welshman punished Sheffield again in the second half (61’), scoring off a counter attack engineered mainly by Heung-Min Son. Later on, Bale crowned his Man-of-the-Match performance with a third goal (77’) against Sheffield before Heung-Min Son (77') put the final nail in the coffin for the Blades. The disastrous performance leaves Paul Heckingbottom's side at the bottom of the league table in 20th place. - Already relegated while having only one win in five games: LLLWL. Harry Kane has scored more goals (21) than all players combined for Sheffield United. Additionally, the Blades remain the lowest scoring side in the league with only 18 goals (0.53gpg). On conceding, they have the second worst record – 60, just behind relegation threatened West Bromwich Albion (64). A goal difference of -42 and 17 points after 5W, 2D & 27L sees Sheffield United rightly at the bottom of the table. Paul Heckingbottom is expected to adopt an attacking 3—4—1—2 formation with McGoldrick and Brewster in attack on Saturday. Jack O'Connell and Billy Sharp are both ruled out of this tie.

Relegated and rooted to the 20th spot, Sheffield United remains at the very bottom of the Premier League table with 17 points from 5W, 2D & 28L. They have nothing at stake and could as well just roll over and hand Everton three extra points in their quest to qualify for European competition. Interim manager, Paul Heckingbottom was appointed on the 13th of March, 2021 to replace Chris Wilder when it became slightly evident that the Blades may not play another season of Premier League football. Unfortunately, nothing changed. After managing eight games, all turned out to be defeats except for the game against Brighton when Sheffield won, 1-0. Accustomed to defeat, they were back in the business of handing three points away right after that game. On Saturday, the 8th of May, they lost to Crystal Palace, 2-0. A defeat that comes after the 4-0 loss to Spurs. With only one victory in five games: LLWLL (Premier League), it's clear Paul Heckingbottom doesn’t have the credentials to oversee Sheffield's prompt return to Premier League football. According to reports, Slavisa Jokanovic was recently interviewed for the permanent managerial position at the club. The ex-Fulham and Watford manager is the current coach of Qatari side, Al-Gharafa SC. He could be unveiled at Sheffield, - as the new manager on the final day of the season. A 4—4—2 formation with McGoldrick and Rhian Brewster in attack is expected on Sunday from Sheffield United. Jack O'Connell and Jack Robinson are both ruled out of this tie.

Already relegated and rooted to the bottom of the table – in 20th spot, Sheffield United defeated Everton by a lone goal on Sunday the 16th of May. It was 17-year-old Daniel Jebbison (7’) who scored the only goal of the game. The teenager (17 years and 309 days old), Daniel Jebbison became the youngest player to make his first Premier League start since Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood in May 2019. A little too late, the win was inconsequential for Sheffield United who will be joining Fulham and West Bromwich Albion in the Championship next season. It was the second win in five league games: LWLLW (Premier League) for the Blades. On goals, Sheffield have 19 (0.53 gpg) but conceded 62 and hence, have a massive negative goal difference of -43. This was the second win for Paul Heckingbottom as (interim) manager of Sheffield United after nine games. Most likely, the 43-year-old will be replaced at the end of the season. However, on Wednesday, Paul Heckingbottom will be focusing on the job at hand. We expect a 3—4—1—2 formation with McGoldrick and perhaps, the teenager, Jebbison leading the attack as a duo once again. Sheffield United have 20 points from 6W, 2D & 28L ahead of this penultimate Premier League tie.

Relegated Sheffield United lost to Newcastle United on Wednesday the 19th of May when they visited Saint James’ Park. The game ended 1-0 but the score-line wasn’t a true reflection of the events in the game. Sheffield’s McGoldrick had a clear-cut chance to put the Blades ahead but pulled his shot wide – missing Newcastle’s goal by inches. Newcastle had their chance at the other end twenty minutes later, but goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was called into action and produced a fantastic save to deny Jonjo Shelvey a goal. The Magpies eventually broke the deadlock after a fantastic header saw Joseph Willock (45’+ET) score his 6th successive goal in the Premier League. Aged 21, he became the youngest player to do so. 1-0! It finished as Sheffield United picked up their third defeat in five games: WLLWL (Premier League). The Blades would be joining Fulham and West Bromwich Albion in the Championship next season. They will remain in 20th place regardless of the result from this fixture. The Blades have scored only 19 goals (0.51 gpg) this season but conceded as many as 63. They have 20 points after 6W, 2D & 29L. Paul Heckingbottom will likely adopt a conventional 4—4—2 formation on Sunday in the final game of the season. The striking partnership between McGoldrick and Jebbison will likely be seen again. On availability, Jack O’Connell, Billy Sharp, Oliver Burke, and Oliver McBurnie are all ruled out while Ethan Ampadu remains doubtful.