Sheffield United aim to get off the mark with a vital win in the Premier League

Eight games played. One point won. Bottom of the league.

Sheffield United’s start to the 2020/21 Premier League season has been nothing short of miserable. The Blades currently occupy 20th place in the top-flight table going into Sunday’s clash with West Ham United.

This time last season (well, after eight games), the Blades had enjoyed a decent start to life back in the big-time after a 12-year absence, sitting in 12th place with nine points. 

Chris Wilder’s side would go on an excellent run of form throughout the winter period and early stages of 2020, leaving the south Yorkshire club sixth when football was put on hold as a result of the outbreak of coronavirus.

A poor run during the restart saw hopes of a European spot fizzle out, but strong efforts earlier on in the season led to a ninth-place finish, well above the expectations of most, if not all, in football at the beginning of the campaign.

However, it seems that this poor run that saw Chris Wilder’s side drop down the table in the back-end of last season has been extended into the new campaign and the post-COVID hangover period, if that’s what we’re calling it, has continued.

Yet to record a win in the Premier League this season, Sheffield United already look a desperate outfit. 

They’re lucky that there have been other woeful starts to the campaign otherwise Chris Wilder’s men could already be a handful of points away from safety.

Remarkably, despite just one point from eight games, United are still only three points away from safety; a convincing victory could see them out of the drop zone just like that.

Their sole point of the season so far came thanks to a late penalty from skipper Billy Sharp in a 1-1 stalemate with Fulham at Bramall Lane. That goal is the only goal they’ve scored at Bramall Lane this season and the second of four scored in eight games. 

It’s clear to see where their issues lie…in attack. 

This was a slight issue last season with the Blades scoring just 39 goals in the league which was the joint-fifth lowest tally, despite their strong final position. However, a goal every two games is a major concern. Striker Oli McBurnie is yet to find the back of the net this season, as is new signing Rhian Brewster, who joined from Liverpool for £23.5m just before the transfer window deadline.

David McGoldrick has two goals whilst Billy Sharp and Sander Berge have both scored a penalty each.

The Blades relied on a resolute back-line last term, conceding just 39 goals, the joint fourth-best in the competition. Their defenders haven’t shown the same sort of form yet this campaign, however, they have conceded 14, better than West Brom, Liverpool, Fulham, Leeds and level with Manchester United, Everton and Brighton.

They welcome a West Ham United side who have picked up an array of impressive results so far this season. 

Despite being sat in 12th place, it feels like the Hammers should be higher in the table. They romped to comfortable 4-0 and 3-0 victories against Wolves and Leicester respectively, drew with Manchester City, recovered from 3-0 down at Spurs to gain a point and gave Liverpool a great run for their money at Anfield.

David Moyes’ side, who have been without their manager for some of the season due to a positive COVID-19 test, haven’t had any issues finding the back of the net, scoring 14 goals in their eight games thus far.

The likes of Jarrod Bowen, Pablo Fornals, Tomáš Souček and Michail Antonio have been particularly impressive for the Hammers this campaign, however, the latter is touch-and-go for Sunday having suffered a hamstring injury in late October.

It’s vital that Sheffield United take a result from their East London visitors on Sunday afternoon. Arguably, it’s too early in the season to talk about ‘must-wins’, but one point from nine games will be a torrid return and a gap may start to form between the Blades and their counterparts who make up the bottom five.

Perhaps the international break came at the perfect time and Chris Wilder now has a valiant, recharged team once again who can find some form before Christmas. 

Make no mistake though, West Ham will prove a tough opponent and the Blades will have to be at their best if they are to add to their points.

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