The goals have finally started to come for Sheffield United and now it’s about plugging the gaps at the back

Having scored just one goal in five league games before the international break, Sheffield United’s recent tally of eight scored in just two games is a substantial improvement.

Fresh from putting six past a bleak Peterborough United side on Saturday, Slavisa Jokanvovic’s side were keen to maintain the momentum built from that first league win of the season against Preston North End on Tuesday evening. They scored the goals but were still too leaky at the back.

An impressive finish from Wolves loanee Morgan Gibbs-White after just seven minutes got the Blades underway before a howler from debutant goalkeeper Robin Olsen allowed Preston skipper Daniel Johnson acres of space to fire home on the 19th-minute mark.

The second half was end-to-end with both goalkeepers making impressive saves to keep affairs on level terms. However, the contest looked to be won after returning midfielder Sander Berge came off of the bench to finish an impressive move from the hosts with just six minutes to play.

It wasn’t won though. This is Sheffield United we’re talking about. Nothing is comfortable going into added time. The defensive coach won’t want to watch back Preston’s second as it was so disastrous.

A misdirected header from Jack Robinson following a deep free-kick got Preston on their way with Emil Riis Jakobsen firing home from a cross in the final seconds.

Having led twice in the match to draw 2-2 will be a disappointment for the South Yorkshire side, but to concede the equaliser with the final kick of the game is a blow hard enough to leave them winded.

However, this isn’t the first time the Blades have looked inept at the back this season.

Conceding four goals, and it could’ve easily been more, at West Brom certainly first highlighted the Blades’ issues at the back. Just days later, equalising in added time against Huddersfield Town, only to concede at the other end moments after. To add to that, last weekend Robinson set Jack Marriott on his way to equalise for Peterborough.

After seven games, United still haven’t found the balance between good offensive play and being solid defensively.

It’s been well documented since his arrival that, historically, Slavisa Jokanovic sides have been slow starters in the Championship and have all gone on incredible second half of the season runs to fire themselves into promotion contention.

That excuse may prove relevant at the end of the campaign when we know where the Blades end up however, right now, the Serbian needs to work his side out and quickly if promotion is still the goal that is.

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