Sheffield United are fighting for their Premier League lives and are actually on their best form of the season – but it may have come too late to help them avoid relegation.
The Blades have drawn three of their past four games – the first time this season they have picked up points so close together – but they still arrive for their first-ever visit to the Gtech nine points adrift of safety with seven matches to play.
They were up against it from the start with nine defeats from their first 10 games, but then beat Wolves 2-1 and drew 1-1 at Brighton in back-to-back matches to get up and running.
However, two more defeats – one of which was a 5-0 drubbing by fellow strugglers Burnley – led to the sacking of manager Paul Heckingbottom.
Former manager Chris Wilder returned to the club and after a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in his first game, celebrated his first win three days later as United beat us 1-0.
Since then though, they have only won one out of 15 games – by triumphing 3-1 at Luton – and are in desperate trouble.
In recent weeks, they have picked up points at Bournemouth (2-2), and at home to both Fulham (3-3) and then last Sunday Chelsea (2-2), but still remain bottom of the table.
The club was hit by another blow on Thursday when it was announced that the next time they play in the Championship they will start with a two-point deduction, with another two-point punishment suspended, after breaking Football League rules by defaulting on payments to other clubs last season.
WHO’S IN CHARGE
Boyhood Sheffield United fan and former Blades defender Chris Wilder was reappointed as manager in December, as mentioned earlier.
In his first spell in charge, from May 2016 to March 2021, he led the Blades from League One to the Premier League in only three seasons and then to a ninth-placed top-flight finish. However, they struggled the following campaign and he eventually left by mutual consent.
Wilder had just led Northampton to the League Two title when he left for his first spell at Bramall Lane after previously guiding Oxford back into the Football League via the National League play-off final in 2010 in which they beat York 3-1.
He has also managed Alfreton and Halifax.
After beginning his playing career with Sheffield United and returning for a second spell, he also had permanent stays with Rotherham, Notts County, Bradford City, Brighton and Halifax – making more than 400 appearances in a 15-year career.
WE’VE MET BEFORE
We have not met Sheffield United that much in recent years and when we have played them, our record is fairly dismal.
In 11 meetings since the turn of the century, we have lost six, drawn three and won only two – both at Griffin Park.
The first was in November 2012, when first-half goals from Clayton Donaldson and Harry Forrester (footage below) earned us a 2-0 victory. The result moved us up to fifth in the League One table, one point and one place behind the Blades.
Our second win was in the first home game of what turned out to be our promotion season.
Adam Forshaw gave us the lead with a superb goal in the 35th minute (footage below), but Neill Collins equalised soon after the break. However, two goals on his home debut from Will Grigg, who also missed a penalty, wrapped up a 3-1 win.
The most memorable game between the sides was the 2012/13 return at Bramall Lane on a Tuesday night in April.
The match finished 2-2 and incredibly featured three red cards, four penalties and a last-gasp Bees equaliser!
There was little sign of what was to come at half-time when we led through a Marcello Trotta penalty, but chaos ensued after the break.
Tony Craig was sent off for violent conduct in the 51st minute, with Tony McMahon hitting the bar from the resultant penalty, but within 17 minutes the Blades were 2-1 ahead thanks to a Barry Robson penalty, after handball by Lee Hodson, and a Dave Kitson header.
Harry Maguire was then sent off for fouling Clayton Donaldson in the area for another penalty, but Sam Saunders’ spot-kick was saved by George Long.
Donaldson was sent off for picking up his second yellow in the 77th minute, but the nine-man Bees rescued a dramatic point when substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips raced through to score a minute from time.
Earlier this season we lost 1-0 at Bramall Lane to a goal in first-half stoppage-time by James McAtee.
OPPOSITION VIEW
BBC Radio Sheffield sports journalist Adam Oxley, who presents, reports and commentates for the station’s Football Heaven show, looks at Sheffield United’s season, the impact of Chris Wilder’s return and memories of past Bees-Blades matches.
Q – How would you assess Sheffield United’s season?
A – We thought this would be a difficult season for Sheffield United, but it’s been even more difficult than expected. Losing the club’s two best players (Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye) relatively late in last summer’s transfer window, and not suitably replacing them, set up the struggles to come.
Paul Heckingbottom was unlucky to lose his job in early December, given the limited outlay on signings and some key injuries, but performances had nosedived. Chris Wilder’s return brought a short-term bounce, but mainly the Blades under both bosses haven’t had the quality to compete, have given away a large number of really poor goals and have struggled to score themselves, which is why they are bottom of the pile.
Q – With matches against four teams around them, including Brentford, still to come, how much hope is there of a “great escape”?
A – In reality, most Sheffield United supporters believe the club is already relegated, and has been for some time. It’s taken until March for the Blades to start scoring and to put together a run of performances and draws to offer some hope, but it feels like too little, too late. Everton and Nottingham Forest have both had points deductions yet remain at least nine points ahead of Chris Wilder’s side, and even if United manage a few wins in their last seven games, it likely won’t be enough to overturn the gap.
Q – What was the expectation at the start of the campaign?
A – Survival was the hope at the start of the campaign but the expectation across the fanbase was to finish in the bottom three. The club would have been in a financial mess had they not achieved promotion last summer and it has tried to attack the Premier League on a budget, which is admirable from a financial sustainability perspective, but has left the Blades short on the pitch.
The minimum expectation from the fans is “sweat on the shirt” and at times, that has been questioned, albeit not over the last month or so.
Q – What did you think about the management change and what has Chris Wilder altered since returning to the club?
A – Sheffield United’s chief executive Stephen Bettis told us at the start of the season that Paul Heckingbottom would remain in place, whatever happens. Heckingbottom had done a fantastic job getting the Blades back in the top flight, and with key members of the squad missing through injury, United started the season with some solid performances. They nearly got a draw against Man City, deserved to beat Everton at Bramall Lane and came within minutes of added time of winning at Spurs. The 8-0 home defeat to Newcastle started a sequence of poor performances that led to United’s hierarchy sacking Heckingbottom after a dire 5-0 loss at Burnley, with the supporter base having turned, and with Chris Wilder patching up his differences with owner Prince Abduallah last summer, the club had a ready-made replacement who had unfinished business in the top flight.
The side has shown similar traits under their two bosses, as discussed, but since the New Year, Ben Brereton-Diaz has been an excellent loan signing, Jack Robinson has taken over as captain at the back to good effect, and the emergence of boyhood Blade Oliver Arblaster has got everyone excited.
Q – What’s the latest on injured ex-Bee John Egan – how likely is he to play again this season?
A – It’s unlikely the Blades will see club captain John Egan again this season, which is a huge shame having not featured since September due to an Achilles injury. The Republic of Ireland international’s contract is up in the summer after six years at Bramall Lane and it will be interesting to see if he’s still at United next season. If Egan is going to move, 31-years-old seems like a good age for a final big deal, but his long-term injury may detract clubs from making a move. I’d have thought United would be keen to keep Egan, and if he regains his fitness, he’d be a real asset in the Championship.
Q – What are your memories of past Brentford-Sheffield United matches?
A – Beating Brentford at Bramall Lane in December this season immediately comes to mind, as one of only three wins all campaign, but the home victory in March 2019 is the main meeting from the past that springs to mind. Gary Madine was sent off for the Blades in the first half and United produced one of the best defensive displays I’ve seen to not only keep a clean sheet but to go on and win 2-0 thanks to David McGoldrick’s late goal. It was a key moment in United’s promotion to the Premier League under Chris Wilder, giving everyone at the club the belief that it could be the Blades year.
Q – Finally can you give me a possible line-up and formation for the Blades please?
A – 3-5-2
GK: Grbic
CB: Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson
WB: Bogle, Osborn
CM: McAtee, Arblaster, Hamer
FWD: Brereton Diaz, McBurnie
HOW TO FOLLOW THE GAME IF YOU CAN’T BE THERE
If you can’t get to the Brentford Community Stadium for Saturday’s sold out 3pm kick-off and want Brentford commentary, audio coverage is available via Buzz Box for free.
Coverage starts half an hour before kick-off and is advert-free, with Mark Burridge and Carl Hutchings.
There will also be coverage on BBC Radio London.
PUBS IN BRENTFORD AND TRAVEL NEWS
For Sheffield United fans coming to the Gtech Community Stadium for the first time, there are plenty of pub options pre and post-match and all are most welcoming and away-fan-friendly (as it should be).
The pub areas are split into two zones. There is the area around Brentford’s old Griffin Park stadium. The pubs there are still very busy on match day frequented by Bees locals before heading down the road to the stadium at Kew Bridge which is only 15 mins walk.
Then there is the area in and around the stadium in Kew Bridge.
It is possible, if you have a good early start, to savour a few pubs in and around Griffin Park and Brentford zone before heading off to the pubs in the Kew zone or even vice versa if you so fancy.
Pubs in Griffin Park/Brentford zone
When at Griffin Park, Brentford was well known for its four pubs – one on each corner of the ground. Three are still operating.
The Griffin is closest to the old away end and has always been very popular with both home and away fans and has its regulars who still make the journey down to the new stadium from there on matchday. The New Inn is on the other side which used to also be popular with away fans before the move. The Brook pub is the other option if you want to savour a pub in and around what is left of our old home. Worth a peep if you want to reminisce about old Brentford.
About five minutes’ walk away from the old ground are two pubs which are enormously popular. The Globe (Windmill Rd) is a “lively but comfortable” pub on matchday where many of the Beesotted crew drink on matchday. Incredibly friendly and cosy, it has always welcomed away fans for years – you can wear colours but also #manners are order. The pub has been popular with a selection of away fans who fancied having a beer a few minutes further walk away from the ground without having to queue six persons deep. After the move to the new ground, The Globe has retained many of lot its regulars from the Griffin Park days and with screens throughout the pub and in its sheltered beer garden, it shows both Premier League and EFL football before and after each match.
Meanwhile around the corner, The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd) is another incredibly friendly and cosy away-friendly pubs about one minute walk from The Globe. Again with a TV screen for live sports and a lovely beer garden, this is another pub frequented by “away fans in the know”.
The other pub worth checking out in the Griffin Park region is The Black Dog Beer House, formerly The Albany, on Albany Road, if you like your real ales.
There are plenty of other pubs in and around Brentford High Street including real ale pub Magpie and Crown (Brentford High Street) and the cosy Brewery Tap (Catherine Wheel Road) near the river.
For a Griffin Park area pub crawl before heading over to Kew we recommend the following: Take the Piccadilly line to Northfields station. Turn left and walk for 2 mins and you will come to The Plough (Northfields Ave). Then walk to The Lord Nelson (10 min walk from The Plough) & then The Globe (1 min walk from The Nelson) en-route before hitting The Griffin (8 min walk from The Globe) and then The Black Dog (2 mins from The Griffin). You can also try and do the other three pubs on the corner whilst down here if you fancy.
Then you can then either walk (15 minutes from The Globe/The Nelson and The Griffin/Black Dog ) or take a train from Brentford station (which is five minutes walk away from both The Globe/The Nelson and The Griffin/Black Dog) or a bus (237/267) to Kew Bridge.
Trains run at 24 and 54 minutes past the hour to Kew Bridge from Brentford and take 2 mins.
Pubs in the Kew Bridge zone
Right next to Kew Bridge station, you will find the Express Tavern – an ale pub with a retro feel. The pub has been refurbished in readiness for the new football season and needless to say, is popular before the match due to its close proximity to the stadium.
Across the road by the river is One Over the Ait – a spacious boozer right next to Kew Bridge. This pub is situated on the location of the now-demolished Oxford & Cambridge pub where Brentford Football Club was founded in 1889.
Across Kew Bridge and the River Thames, there are two pubs on Kew Green – the Cricketers and the Greyhound – very close to the pier where Brentford fans have embarked on their away journeys by water to F*lham, Orient, Charlton, West Ham and even Southend.
North of the river along hoity-toity Strand on the Green, you will find The Steam Packet, in an old Cafe Rouge, and The Bell. A bit further down are The City Barge and the Bulls Head – two pubs side-by-side in which you would often see Ant and Dec hanging out.
There is also The Pilot which you can get to coming out of the BACK entrance of Gunnersbury station and we believe the old John Bull pub at the front of the station has been refurbed as The Gunnersbury but we have never been there so can’t give it a or a
Transport to Brentford and Kew Bridge
**** NO TRAINS TO KEW BRIDGE THIS SATURDAY ****
With no direct trains, we recommend people jump on the tube from Kings Cross or Euston and head to Northfields or South Ealing on the Piccadilly Line.
It is only 40 mins max station by tube to station meaning you could be in a Brentford pub within an hour of embarking your train at Kings Cross, Euston or Liverpool Street.
The other station option is Gunnersbury. You can walk to the stadium from Gunnersbury tube station (District line) in 25 minutes or take a bus (H91, 237, 267, 110), but note that it is closed for entry for one hour after the match.
For the Brentford/Griffin Park pubs you can get the Piccadilly line tube to Northfields station from King’s Cross or Euston (35 minutes) then walk down to The Plough, The Globe, The Lord Nelson and The Griffin and other pubs from there.
The new stadium is around 25 minutes’ walk from South Ealing station – if you don’t fancy Gunnersbury – or you can get on the 65 bus from across the road which will drop you almost outside in 15 minutes.
You can also pick up the 65 bus from Ealing Broadway (District and Central line) which will take you to the new stadium in 25 minutes.
You can check out Transport for London’s guide to travel on the Tube and Overground.
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