Sheffield United's 2-1 defeat at home to Millwall last month (24 October) was the 499th defeat in the Football League (and Premier League) at Bramall Lane - although inevitable, Southend could become the 500th Football Club to claim a win on Blades soil in the Football League since entering Division Two in 1892.
Amazingly the Blades went throughout their first ever season in the Football League without sucumming to a single defeat at home, they drew just once in the 11 home games played en-route to promotion via the Play-Offs. There first ever defeat at home came the following season, exactly a year and a day to the date of their first ever Football League match. On 4 September 1893 Derby County were victorious by two goals to one.
We skip to 1908 when on 11th April Bury, who have already won at Bramall Lane themselves this season, beat the Blades 2-0 - claiming the 50th defeat. Everton were responssible for enflicting a centuary of losses in 1923 whilst our nearest neighbours Sheffield Wednesday enflicted a 2-1 defeat for a quarter of a millennium defeats.
It may well be that Sheffield United are successful against the Shippers and whilst this accolade is unwanted it will be inevitable and most likely happen this season. Shrewsbury Town, Coventry City and Bradford City all play at the Lane before the year is out - will they be the ones to set the record straight?
| Date | Opponents | Score | |
| 1st Defeat | 04 Sep 1893 | Derby County | L 1-2 |
| 50th Defeat | 11 Apr 1908 | Bury | L 0-2 |
| 100th Defeat | 16 Apr 1923 | Everton | L 0-1 |
| 250th Defeat | 02 Jan 1965 | Sheffield Wednesday | L 1-2 |