The Blades have gained just one point from the three league games played so far, a 1-1 draw with Rochdale last Saturday. They kick-started the season with a 1-0 defeat at Bolton Wanders, and at home to Southend United found themselves 3-0 down after just 15 minutes...
Southend piled the pressure on Sheffield United by cruising to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Bramall Lane. Phil Brown's side, previously without a win since beating the same opponents in March, wrapped-up the game by scoring twice during a devastating first-half spell following Jack O'Connell's own goal. Southend took a sixth-minute lead when O'Connell, one of eight new signings in Chris Wilder's squad, sliced Luke O'Neill's cross into his own net before Stephen McLaughlin and Simon Cox also pounced.
The result was greeted by a chorus of boos from the home crowd whose team is still without a victory since appointing the former Northampton Town chief during the close season. United goalkeeper George Long was powerless to stop O'Neill's deflected sixth-minute cross but the youngster was involved in the mix-up with full-back Chris Hussey which allowed McLaughlin to slide home into an empty net eight minutes later.
Worse was the follow for United when another O'Connell error presented Cox with the opportunity to extend Southend's lead after a quarter-of-an-hour.
Since that defeat the Blades have been busy in the transfer market, allowing both John Brayford (on loan to Burton Albion) and Martyn Woolford (Fleetwood Town) leave the Lane, whilst brining in keeper Simon Moore (Cardiff City), who is likely to make his United debut at the Den.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is expected to make changes as his side chase their first league win of the season. The Blades lost 3-0 at home against Southend in midweek and Wilder, who has no major new injury concerns, may be tempted to switch things around.
Jake Wright, a summer signing from Oxford, has been waiting patiently for his debut and Marc McNulty could make his first league appearance of the season up front. Winger Harry Chapman, on loan from Middlesbrough, is another pushing for his first start for the club, while midfielder Paul Coutts and defender Kieron Freeman are also in contention.
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