Robson: Rot set in during Premier campaign

Fifth-from-bottom United have collected just one Championship point on the road this season after dropping from the top flight.

And the Bramall Lane manager has traced the slump back to 15 months ago.

"It's okay to look back at last year when we coped not too badly in the Premiership," he said.

"You raise your level of performance because of the enthusiasm and I think Blades players did that in the Premiership.

"And then in January they levelled out.

"You look back, how many games did Sheffield United win from January onwards?

"They were in a great position and the players levelled out.

"The way that we're playing away from home is a big concern. Individual errors have cost us big style this season so far.

"We've conceded far too many goals and that is something that I've definitely got to look at."

United were beaten 2-0 at Bristol City and Robson levelled the blame again at failure to prevent goals.

In 10 games so far, opponents have netted 19 times.

"I don't think the performance on Saturday was as bad as we all made out," Robson explained.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

"I look at their goalkeeper and he's made two fantastic saves; one right at the start of the first half, one right at the end of the first half.

"So we could have scored goals again.

"Obviously it's a big concern for me, on the defending side, we're conceding far too many goals.

"Our defending for half an hour in the first half was poor, so that is a concern for me and that is something that we've got to put right.

"It's really disappointing where we are in the league."

Robson is not ready to write off the campaign.

United are only seven points behind sixth-placed Barnsley and 10 points off an automatic promotion place.

"I still think with this set of players we're capable of going into the play-offs," he said. "There's no doubt about that."

"But we've got to realise we're not as good as we think we are."