Sheffield United

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Championship match between Portsmouth and Sheffield United.

Here are some of your comments:

Portsmouth fans

Rick: Pompey were not at their best, hopefully that is still to come. Too many simple mistakes, continually giving the ball away. Lots of effort from everyone but less so whoever leads the strikers.

Can't believe the delivery is lacking as Kavuma-McQueen was once again the outstanding player but didn't find anyone that could put his crosses away bar Segecic's tap in!

Ian: That was way harder than it needed to be. The faults of soft goals and no real patterns of play in evidence for big chunks of this game but somehow they found a way. Hopefully we can build on this because we won't get to play against 10 men or score 30-yard worldies every week.

Rob: Pompey great going forward some lovely football but terrible defence. Need coaching on corners at both ends. John Mousinho living on a prayer. Blades down to 10 men didn't sit back just kept attacking, great game to watch. Pompey deserved the win but were lucky.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United fans

Jack: Here we go again. Wilder having a pop at referees but praising his players. He always has tunnel vision views and will not face the broader picture of how the team keeps failing to meet up to expectations.

John: Wilder continues to deflect any criticism. Peck ineffectual again. Blaster looks frightened of any contact, not the same player since he got clattered by Bannan.

Wottsamaddahu: Great performance by 10-man Blades for nearly an hour showing great team spirit playing for the shirt, which as a season ticket holder you want for your money. Thought harsh second yellow from the same referee who sent two Blades players off last year? Portsmouth player nutmegged Choudhury then ran into him?

Blades boss Chris Wilder spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield after their 3-2 defeat at Portsmouth.

"There were a number of decisions that incredibly frustrated me," he said.

"I just think where are the young up and coming referees that should be refereeing in the Championship instead of the ones that just survive.

"They keep surviving and no doubt we'll have another survivor on Saturday, where's the quality?

"We feel a bit hard done by tonight and we were a threat, three goals in the last three games come from 25 to 30 yards and there was nothing Michael could do.

"The attitude of the team late on was so good and they fought for each other like mad, it's a tough one to take."

Portsmouth will look to bounce back from a disappointing derby loss to Southampton when they welcome Sheffield United to Fratton Park on Wednesday (19:45 BST).

Pompey could not overcome a 1-0 deficit at St Mary's on Sunday despite the Saints seeing Cam Bragg sent off for a second yellow card at the end of the first half.

Meanwhile, the Blades took a convincing 3-0 win over Lincoln City on Saturday and find themselves just two points short of the play-off positions going into the midweek games.

• Portsmouth have lost each of their last three league games against Sheffield United, last losing more in a row to the Blades in December 1980 (6).

• After winning this exact fixture last season 1-0, Sheffield United could enjoy back-to-back league wins at Portsmouth for the first time since May 1987.

• Portsmouth have won just one of their four home Championship games this season (D1 L2). Only four times in the 21st century have they won one or fewer of their first five home league matches in a campaign: 2005-06 (0), 2009-10 (0), 2012-13 (1), and 2024-25 (0).

• ● After losing 2-1 at Stoke, Sheffield United are looking to avoid suffering back-to-back away defeats in the Championship for the second time in 2026, after January against Charlton and Southampton.

• ● Sheffield United's Chris Wilder averages 2.5 points-per-game against Portsmouth in the Championship (P4 W3 D1), his joint-highest against any side he has managed 3+ games in the competition (also 2.5 v Brentford and Reading).

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield following Saturday's 3-0 win over Lincoln City.

"We needed it. We have heard all the noise, so we needed it individually. Players needed up their game - the coaches, the manager, we all did. And we did," he said.

"This was an awkward game that we had to deal with.

"We don't like to get bashed up, and I don't think you would like someone come over the top of you and bash you all the time about your performances. We don't enjoy it and don't like it, so always the best way to react is by putting in a performance like that."

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has said the club is "getting bashed about" after a difficult start to the season.

The Blades are 18th in the Championship after eight matches and face off-field uncertainty as the EFL have launched an investigation after the company used to buy the club was placed into liquidation by the High Court in August.

Wilder's side have lost three of their past four matches and host 12th-placed Lincoln on Saturday (15:00 BST).

"I don't enjoy the little period that we're having because there's not a lot of good news going on but these things happen and we're resetting as a football club," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"The club are getting bashed about a bit at the moment, the owners are, [chief executive] Steve Bettis is a little bit, and myself and the players are. We have to come fighting back.

"The best way of doing that is putting in performances and winning games of football, which I am determined, as ever, to do so."

United have won two of their eight league games this season and were knocked out of the EFL Cup by League Two Fleetwood Town.

First-team regulars Callum O'Hare, Gus Hamer and Andre Brooks were all sold in the summer as the owners looked to bring in money and reduce the wage bill, with the team largely relying on loans and free transfers to replace them

Wilder, in his third spell as United boss, is confident the team can turn their fortunes around.

"This is a disappointing start but we are under a fifth of the way through the season, we've had 24 changes and £20m brought in and £10m off the wage bill and new players integrated," he added.

"Players are trying to find form and I'm trying to find a solution.

"It's been a slow start. I don't want it to be a slow middle bit and a slow ending, and I am absolutely certain it wont be.

"There's more to come from this team."

Image source, Opta

Chris Wilder will seek to avoid unwanted history as his Sheffield United side welcome Lincoln City to Bramall Lane on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Blades have won two of their opening eight Championship games to sit 18th, just four points above the relegation zone.

Newly-promoted Lincoln are two points and six places better off and could climb into the top-six with a win, coupled with favourable results elsewhere.

• This is the first league meeting between Sheffield United and Lincoln City since the 1983-84 campaign, with the Blades unbeaten in both meetings (W1 D1).

• In all competitions, Lincoln City and Sheffield United last met in the League Cup second round in 2023-24 – after a 0-0 draw, the Imps went through 3-2 on penalties.

• Sheffield United have lost six of their past 11 home league games (W2 D3), including the last two. Outside of the Premier League, the Blades have never lost three in a row at Bramall Lane under Chris Wilder.

• Lincoln have won 11 of their past 14 away league matches (D2 L1), with nine of those wins coming alongside a clean sheet, including the last three, all 1-0 wins. The only two newly promoted sides in Football League history to win four away games in a row without conceding are MK Dons in 2008-09 and Burton in 2015-16, both in League One.

• Sheffield United have given the most minutes (5,456) and starts (61) to English players in the Championship this season, while Lincoln rank third for both (4,436 minutes and 50 starts).

Not for the first time, Sheffield United chief executive Stephen Bettis was left to face the music and answer questions on behalf of the club's owners on Tuesday.

This has been a regular occurrence - under both Prince Abdullah and now the current ownership.

Let's get one thing straight - he shouldn't have to be the only one who ever has to do this. Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltouky have been given ample opportunity to address fans after 18 months of errors, bizarre decision-making, trusting the wrong people and now owing the former owner a suggested £35 million.

It's high time they answered some questions. Proper questions that the fans want answering from the people at the top.

Bettis deserves credit for coming out on their behalf. Some fans might not want to hear that - but ultimately a lot of the issues he's often asked to address are nothing to do with him, yet he's always very willing to speak to the media, be asked questions the fans send to us and he communicates well. The answers might not always be precisely what fans want to hear, but that's never going to be the case.

It was interesting at one point when Bettis became quite passionate discussing a list of achievements he was proud of during a decade at Bramall Lane. I put to him that I thought he was more animated during that part of the interview because he's often faced with being the man tasked with addressing the faults of others, whilst some of the good work he's done goes unnoticed. I think that is a point worth highlighting here.

We got into the saga over owed money in some detail and it's clear there's still a 'wait and see' approach to a possible points deduction, as the EFL and independent football regulator (IFR) go through the process of reviewing the liquidation of former club holding company COH Sports.

It also didn't sound like the money raised from player sales this summer will be available for any kind of spending spree in January. Bettis also provided updates on the plan to reach Category 1 status for the academy and the new training facility in Dore.

Chief Executive Officer Stephen Bettis has said the proceeds from Sheffield United's summer sales will not necessarily be reinvested in new signings.

Bettis spent an hour in the BBC Radio Sheffield studio on Tuesday night and as well as answering questions from fans he reflected on the Blades' failed promotion push, the Ruben Selles era, player exits, parachute payments and financial constraints..

He revealed the club turned down offers for young stars Sydie Peck and Femi Seriki in the summer as they did not meet the club's valuation and said there was an issue with the Bramall Lane stand which will need investment.

Asked whether the proceeds of the summer sales of the likes of Callum O'Hare, Gus Hamer and Andre Brooks, which brought in around £20m, would be available to reinvest in the squad in January, Bettis said: "Some of it will be, not all of it.

"The club runs at a loss, I can't sit here and say the player sales money is put in a box to be used in the future.

"Supporters may be disappointed with my answer but I'm not going to sit here and lie - the reality is not all of that money will be allocated to spending on players."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's match between Stoke City and Sheffield United.

Here are some of your comments:

Stoke City fans

David: Stoke were by far the better side, dominated the first half. Were unfortunate to go behind after Bamford won a dubious free-kick and Phillips beat Johansson at the near post. Stoke fought back with a special from McGlynn the USA international and then Gallagher, back from injury, scored a cracker to seal the win and a deserved three points for Stoke.

Selina: Fantastic win. It's harsh and funny that it [Sam Gallagher's winner] was offside. What a way to win a game.

Steve: Quite splendid. Three straight home wins for the first time in years. Robins looks and sounds happy, the players are a team on and off the pitch. It's only September but we are looking ok for at least a top half finish for the first time since relegation.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United fans

Garry: The club is in a mess. This is what happens when you sell your best players, don't spend the proceeds and bring in frees and loans.

Martin: Sorry Chris, it's time to go. No play patterns, weak in defence, not creating chances.

Dave: Nothing has changed from last season. Can't win a tackle or a 50-50 ball. Can't pass to their own player or keep possession. No running off the ball, no forward line. Oh the change... they sold their best three players. Wilder has passed his sell-by date.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff believes that Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder's criticism over the scheduling of the football season could have contributed to the side's shock 1-0 loss to Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup.

Wilder, who has been a vocal critic of the number of matches played in a short time, made seven changes to his side for the game against the League Two outfit, but an own goal from Rhys Norrington-Davies sealed their exit from the competition.

"It's easy to come out after that and say the players haven't done enough and maybe that's true," McAnuff told the Football Daily podcast.

"The side is stacked. That is a side that should be, respectfully to Fleetwood Town, able to go and win a game of football no matter how much you've played or not played.

"From the manager's perspective, it's a tough balance to strike. I get it's been busy but you can't let the players smell that because they look for excuses."

The Blades' upcoming visit to Stoke City on Saturday will be their ninth game in four weeks.

As the full-time whistle blew and Sheffield United stumbled out of the League Cup at the hands of fourth-tier Fleetwood Town, something very different was happening 139 miles to the east.

Roared on by nearly 45,000 fans at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland were winning 1-0 against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League. A victorious return to Europe for Regis Le Bris' side after a 53-year wait.

481 days ago the two teams met at Wembley in the Championship play-off final. The Blades were 1-0 up and 15 minutes away from promotion.

What has happened since is so stark between the two clubs, it is a damning indictment on the people running the show at Bramall Lane.

United's fans, in rather more colourful language, demanded to know what they had just seen at Highbury last night. A major missed opportunity on the one hand, the latest example of a floundering club that has lost its way on the other.

This is increasingly becoming a weird and concerning period for the club.

Co-chairman Steven Rosen is in the country. He, along with CEO Stephen Bettis and Chris Wilder, met with the fan advisory board this week.

The group released a series of posts on X, noting the topics that had been discussed. They said they had received assurances that the club is being run in a responsible manner, yet no details were revealed.

Supporters, understandably, reacted to this by requesting actual information to back this up. The FAB say they'll release more information after consulting the Football Supporters' Association and some local MPs.

This is part of the problem though. Supporters have concerns. The owners, as custodians of the club, have a duty to address those concerns.

A cosy YouTube chat with a pal dressed up as a new podcast, where no challenges were made to Steven Rosen, followed by a meeting with the FAB from which nobody knows what was actually discussed, does not cut it.

Rosen is in the UK. If there is truly nothing to worry about, let's hear why.

Image source, Getty Images

At the moment the owners are giving the impression they are beyond scrutiny.

They seem to be saying the situation, in which they allegedly owe the former owners £35m, something the EFL and the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) are looking at, can just be brushed off.

Take the answer in the recent YouTube video Rosen took part in – something that felt like a convenient way to avoid being accused of never talking. He seemed to think simply not being in the same mess Sheffield Wednesday found themselves in a year ago was a positive.

To use a film analogy, saying Indiana Jones 4 isn't as bad as Indiana Jones 5 doesn't change the fact that both were offensively rubbish.

The whole saga is like a dark cloud hanging over United. And you can't help but wonder if it's infecting issues on the pitch.

Not that the manager Chris Wilder, nor his players, are totally blameless. Plenty of fans contacted us last night to question the decision to use a 4-4-2 against Fleetwood. Many were angered at the performance of the team.

Per Opta, they are in the bottom five in the Championship for xG per game (1.04), with the fourth-highest average for xG against (1.67).

Yet there are more than a few signs that pressure is building as a consequence of the ownership drama.

Wilder seems frustrated. I wonder if, in part, that's why he found himself complaining pre-Fleetwood about the schedule, days before a three-week international break.

More than ever this feels like a club that needs proper leadership at the very top to get back on track.

One way the current owners can do that is by fronting up, addressing the situation and coming up with a proper, sensible plan for the future – and explaining that plan to supporters, who deserve to hear proper questions and answers from the men running their club.

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This will be the 114th meeting in all competitions between Stoke City and Sheffield United when the sides meet on Saturday (12:30 BST).

The Blades are hoping to recover from exiting the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two Fleetwood on Wednesday, while Stoke have taken 10 points from a possible 12 in the Championship.

• Stoke have lost each of their past five league meetings with Sheffield United since a 3-1 win in October 2022 under Alex Neil.

• Sheffield United have won away to Stoke in both of the past two Championship seasons, and could win three successive away league games against the Potters for just the second time, after April 1960.

• Stoke have won three of their past four Championship games (D1), as many as their previous 23 beforehand (W3 D6 L14).

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in five away league games (W3 D2), the longest ongoing run of all current Championship clubs.

• Only Rio Cardines (5) has more Championship goal involvements this season among defenders than Stoke's Eric Bocat (4 - 2 goals, 2 assists).

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United defender Liam Mitching has been called into the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time.

The 26-year-old is currently on loan with the Blades from Coventry City and has been included in Heimir Hallgrímsson's 26-man squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Kosovo, Hungary, Austria and Israel.

Kitching made 38 league appearances for Coventry last season as they won the Championship title but joined Sheffield United on a season-long loan on transfer deadline day.

The Harrogate-born central defender started his career with Leeds United and has also played for his hometown club as well as Forest Green Rovers and Barnsley.

Sheffield United did not follow the gameplan in Wednesday night's Carabao Cup defeat by Fleetwood Town, according to boss Chris Wilder.

The League Two side upset their Championship opponents with a 1-0 third-round win to earn a last-16 tie at home to Premier League champions Arsenal.

"The first 10 minutes of the second half we went off plan and just thought the game would come to us," Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"The goal was horrendous from our point of view with the amount of mistakes we made, the players just wanted to do their own thing.

"I told them at half-time what could happen if we don't start the second half on the front foot and if we go off-plan - we have to own it."

Wilder made seven changes to the side beaten by Wolves in the Championship on Sunday but believes the team he named should have been good enough to beat their fourth-tier opponents.

"It's an incredibly disappointing night regardless of the changes we made," he said.

"There are a lot of players who had opportunities to stake a claim - when they're not playing they have an opinion and will be the victim about why they're not playing and those opportunities presented themselves tonight and they have certainly not taken them."

"I wanted a problem on Saturday about what players to pick. I haven't got a problem now, I know exactly who to pick."

Sheffield United visit Stoke City in the Championship on Saturday (12:30 BST).

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