Sheffield United must restore a former strength to overcome their inconsistent start to the season
Sheffield United have won just two of their last 11 matches at Bramall Lane, highlighting why correcting their home form needs to be a priority.
After signing off for a three-week international break on the back of three successive defeats, Sheffield United will be under pressure to bounce back on the other side of the current hiatus.
After exiting the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two side Fleetwood Town, United boss Chris Wilder demanded a reaction ahead of his side’s trip to the bet365 Stadium to face Stoke City a few days later.
Despite taking the lead through Kalvin Phillips’ first goal for the club, United left Staffordshire empty-handed after screamers from Jack McGlynn and Sam Gallagher turned the game in Stoke’s favour late on. It means the Blades are spending the first international break of the season 18th in the Championship table after eight matches.
Although United are six points better off than they were at this stage last season, that is hardly considered a positive amid the expectations at Bramall Lane and the disastrous nature of the Blades’ start under former boss Rubén Sellés last term.
United have experienced an indifferent start to this season, winning two, drawing three and losing three of their first eight league games. Performances, though, have concerned many supporters more than the results.
In United’s defence, they were never likely to come flying out of the traps this season after a very difficult summer transfer window that saw Andre Brooks, Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare move on without being directly replaced. The aforementioned trio were United’s chief architects, playing a direct role in 41 of the Blades’ 66 league goals last term.
Having failed to replace them, any team is going to feel the impact of losing three such influential figures. United have scored just nine goals so far this season and registered the lowest number of shots (66) in the Championship, highlighting just how starved of creativity they are.
Nevertheless, United supporters remain entitled to demand a little bit more, and they will be demanding three points when Lincoln City visit Bramall Lane a week on Saturday for the Blades’ first post-international-break outing. The clash with the Imps will be the first of seven games Wilder’s troops must navigate in 29 days ahead of the November international break.
Three of those seven outings will come at Bramall Lane, and it already feels imperative that United start trying to turn their own patch back into a happy hunting ground for points. The Blades have amassed just four points from their first four home games this season, winning one, drawing one and losing two.
Although they were very unfortunate not to take anything from their clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last S2 outing, Raúl Jiménez’s late winner condemned the Blades to a second successive home defeat.
In truth, United’s home form has been less than convincing throughout 2026. Since the turn of the year, they have won just 21 points from a possible 48 on their own patch, winning six, drawing three and losing seven of their 16 Championship home games this calendar year.
Additionally, United have conceded 27 goals across those 16 outings, meaning they have conceded more goals at home in the Championship than anyone else in 2026. Their only clean sheet at Bramall Lane this year came against Birmingham City on the opening day of this season, when they played out a dull 0-0 draw.
Previously in the Championship, United’s form at Bramall Lane had often been the backbone of their success. For example, since ending their long stint in League One in 2016/17, United, prior to last season, had never lost more than six home games in the second tier and had always won north of 40 points.
Last term, they lost ten of their 23 home league games and won 31 points. It goes without saying that the events of the summer of 2025, which saw Wilder replaced by Sellés, more than played their part.
But after winning just one of their first four home games this season, United will be under pressure to start picking up points more consistently at Bramall Lane, starting against Lincoln, who have won each of their last three games on their travels without conceding a goal.
Following the clash with Lincoln, United will face trips to Portsmouth and Bristol City before returning to Bramall Lane to host Derby County and Wrexham, meaning three of their next five games are at home.
United undoubtedly need to improve across the board, but correcting their home form has to be a leading priority ahead of the restart.