West Brom v Sheffield United: Inside track on the struggling Blades

We spoke with Ben Meakin, from BladesPod, and the team behind Dem Blades, to get a better look at Chris Wilder's side.

See what they had to say here...

It's fair to say The Blades haven't had the best start to the season, what's gone wrong so far?

BM: Where to start? Losing our best defender (Jack O'Connell), best midfielder (John Fleck) and best striker (Lys Mousset) hasn't helped - O'Connell is out for the season, Mousset is yet to feature and Fleck returned from injury last week.

This one feels like an excuse but the lack of crowds has really hurt us - since lockdown, we've taken 12 points from 19 games compared to the 43 from 28 games prior to that.

A lot of our success came from the intensity of our play which has been sorely lacking since then, only rearing its head in short bursts.

Ultimately we are defending much worse than we did last season and aren't creating as much at the other end.

You could make the case that we could and should have more points - 6 of our 8 defeats have been by a single goal, and we have had a tough fixture list to start the season - but our lack of goal threat serves as a counterargument.

DB: The players haven't turned up in a couple of games, or at least they haven't demonstrated the high standard they showed last season.

However, those poorer performances have occurred against the very top teams and they are not the side we need to beat to avoid relegation.

We've been unlucky with injuries - big injuries like Jack O'Connell in defence and Lys Moussett up front - and we've been on the end of some one-goal-margin defeats from those around us. It has been tough.

This game is already being labelled as a relegation six pointer, do you think that's a fair claim to make, and why?

BM: Sadly yes, it is.

Perhaps the only silver lining for both clubs so far is that we're not yet cut adrift from safety, and one win could potentially make a huge difference to restoring some confidence to a United team that look devoid of it at the moment.

DB: Yes, because neither team seems capable of doing what Sheffield United did last season, and what Leeds have done this season, which is to take significant points from top six sides.

Last year we took four from Chelsea and four from Spurs. I don't see that happening this year, and for us, certainly, it is a six-pointer.

What kind of football can we expect from Sheffield United at The Hawthorns this weekend?

BM: We're lacking crispness at the moment, but we still look to work overloads out wide and get crosses in from there.

It's been a bit pedestrian so far and without O'Connell and Fleck our left side has been devoid of attacking threat, so unless that comes back expect to see a lot of our play coming down the right instead.

DB: Difficult question, because we look bereft of confidence.

A confident Sheffield United team would involve blood and thunder pressing, vertical passing to get up the pitch, and some tippier-and-tappier stuff in advanced positions.

However, we looked a little lost against West Ham last weekend. A bit to sidewards, a bit too lethargic in our pressing.

The Baggies will have to see which version turns up (I fancy us to 'turn up').

Are there any covid/injury worries heading into this game?

BM: Enda Stevens will probably miss out, and Ethan Ampadu went off injured against West Ham so that might necessitate yet another shuffle at the back.

Fleck got through the 90 minutes and the word is that Mousset is nearing full fitness, so I'm hoping he might make the bench.

DB: There are fewer concerns than hopeful returns. Chris Wilder has been talking about the return of Lys Mousset, and if he starts the game, I will be delighted.

His pace, touch, trickery was too much for most defenders in the league last season, and he creates so much space for others.

I am hoping Enda Stevens, our left wing back, will feature after injury for Ireland. His replacement, Max Lowe, struggled against West Ham.

Who are the big dangermen for Albion to worry about in the Blades' ranks?

BM: This is so hard to answer given how out of form / fitness our key players are.

I'll just say Sander Berge, the big Norwegian geezer in our midfield who is just a delight to watch and has been one of our more consistent players so far. He glides about the pitch and is extremely hard to knock off the ball.

DB: Now that I've mentioned Lys Mousset, he is bound not to start. So let's go with my 'stock ball': our dangermen are/is the team turning up, together.

Our best performances rely so heavily on teamwork that it would be difficult to pick out one man. We haven't scored many goals... So I can't pick a forward!

What's your predicted XI for the game?

BM: I'll guess that Ampadu and Stevens will miss out, in which case I expect we'll see the following:

Aaron Ramsdale in goal; Chris Basham, John Egan and Jack Robinson at the back; Max Lowe and George Baldock at wingback; Fleck, Oli Norwood and Berge in midfield; Rhian Brewster and Oli McBurnie up front.

DB: No idea. I'd like to see Mousset and Brewster start together up front, but I think it will be more like this:

McGoldrick - McBurnie

Fleck - Norwood - Berge

Lowe - Robinson - Egan - Basham - Baldock

Ramsdale

What have you made of Albion from afar, do you think they have what it takes to survive in the PL?

BM: Respectfully, I can't see it and I think it's incredibly likely that at least one of these two teams will be back in the Championship next season.

The one thing I do look at with a small amount of envy at the moment is that West Brom seem to have an identity, particularly in attack, and some skillful players - which I can't honestly say about us so far this season.

But ultimately these are two of the worst defences and worst attacks in the league, so without major changes, it's going to be a struggle.

DB: I would be lying if I'd said I've seen lots of Baggies games - when your team start so poorly it's less fun watching other teams!

From what I have seen, I would say I like your attackers and have less faith in your defence.

For my money, the 'Goals Against' column is a better sign of where your team will end up this season, and using that, I have West Brom, Brighton, Newcastle, Leeds, Fulham and Sheffield United finishing in the bottom 6.

I think it will be a struggle for the Blades or the Baggies to survive!

Your match prediction?

BM: I keep hoping that this week will be "the week" where we piece it together, but after a few positive performances a lot of optimism has drained away over the last few games, so I'm now in the position of needing United to show me something before I expect a result.

We hardly ever score, we always concede, and we frequently lose by a single goal - so a 1-0 home win looks like the safest bet.

DB: Always confident: 3-0 Blades.

You can follow Ben here, and keep track of BladesPod here too. You can follow Dem Blades on Twitter here.