'Difficult to find positives' ... 'West Brom is HUGE next week' - Sheffield United fans react to defeat to West Ham

However, the visit of West Ham to Bramall Lane provided more of the same agony that has featured in most of this season so far, with missed opportunities in front of goal coupled with some sloppy defending meaning that the Blades remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

For fans, the concern and the frustartion is growing – made worse by the fact that they feel helpless while unable to pack the Lane and roar on their side as they have done.

That was reflected on social media in the aftermath of another defeat.

@ViewFromJohnSt posted: “Manner of defeat today was a serious body blow. Difficult to find a positive. That was as far from a Chris Wilder-inspired performance as you might ever see. Nothing for it but to start again and hope for reaction at West Brom.”

You get what you pay for ... the difference as Sheffield United lose to West Ham

And @AntSSimo19 added: “Very difficult to see where a win never mind recovery comes from after that. Easy to say with hindsight but the recruitment has been poor and left a squad with no options to freshen things up.”

@Blades_Mad was hard-hitting in his reflections: “Think it's the first time we can call a Chris Wilder team spineless. Hopeless. And pretty much useless. Negative football. Backwards or lumping it aimlessly. Identity totally absent. What has happened??”

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And @oldsufctweets is getting frustrated by what’s happening in the final third: “I am normally Mr Positive, but we have been trying to pass the ball into the back of the net since the first match of the season. Then we get into the final third, float a pass to their keeper or hit the first man.”

@JackAshbourne said: “That hurts. Confidence is literally non-existent. These aren’t bad players. This isn’t a bad team. Chris Wilder isn’t a bad manager. But god that one does hurt badly today. Not giving up on this team 9 games into a season at all. But next weekend is must win.”

And @PavlovLore backed up that point on the importance of next week’s match against fellow strugglers West Brom: “West Brom next week is a huge, huge game, isn't it? They've also had a miserable start to the season, and have no quality on the field. We'll probably find a way to lose to them too. I'm opening some wine, see you all next week.”

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Chris Holt, Football Editor