Sheffield United: Paul Heckingbottom's press conference updates as Blades prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur

Paul Heckingbottom was left angered at his Sheffield United side’s first-half display as they lost 4-0 at Tottenham Hotspur.

Gareth Bale netted a hat-trick against the relegated Blades, with Son Heung-min adding a fourth to compound United’s misery as they suffered their 27^th defeat in their 34 league matches so far this season.

United ended the game having had one shot on target, but a double change at half-time did see them improve a little – before Bale’s second goal took the wind out of their sales.

“It’s anger at the first-half performance,” Heckingbottom said.

“I didn’t enjoy watching that. It was a passive performance. There was a difference in the second half, in approach and attitude.

“From Spurs’ point of view they’ll be happy with the goals but we’re not.

“The first is so passive, the second is a counter from our corner and the third is a giveaway in a bad area.

“We know he [Bale] is a world class player bit we can’t afford to give that type of player those opportunities. We have to be at our best to compete at this level.”

It could have been worse for the Blades, as Son saw another strike ruled out for offside, while both Chris Basham and Sander Berge made their returns from injury.

“We know we’ve played against good players ever week in this league and we have to be at our best to compete, and we weren’t in the first half,” Heckingbottom added.

“That was the bit that upset me, to be honest. The first half wasn’t good enough.”

Paul Heckingbottom was left angered at his Sheffield United side’s first-half display as they lost 4-0 at Tottenham Hotspur.

Gareth Bale netted a hat-trick against the relegated Blades, with Son Heung-min adding a fourth to compound United’s misery as they suffered their 27^th defeat in their 34 league matches so far this season.

United ended the game having had one shot on target, but a double change at half-time did see them improve a little – before Bale’s second goal took the wind out of their sales.

“It’s anger at the first-half performance,” Heckingbottom said.

“I didn’t enjoy watching that. It was a passive performance. There was a difference in the second half, in approach and attitude.

“From Spurs’ point of view they’ll be happy with the goals but we’re not.

“The first is so passive, the second is a counter from our corner and the third is a giveaway in a bad area.

“We know he [Bale] is a world class player bit we can’t afford to give that type of player those opportunities. We have to be at our best to compete at this level.”

It could have been worse for the Blades, as Son saw another strike ruled out for offside, while both Chris Basham and Sander Berge made their returns from injury.

“We know we’ve played against good players ever week in this league and we have to be at our best to compete, and we weren’t in the first half,” Heckingbottom added.

“That was the bit that upset me, to be honest. The first half wasn’t good enough.”

and probably should be five as Reguilon is played in by Kane, he’s clean through but somehow puts it wide and that’s FULL TIME, United undone by the individual brilliance of one man tonight and although they were good in spells in the second half, it was another case of clear gulf in quality tonight. Stay tuned for post-match reaction from both camps

sees Lys Mousset come on for David McGoldrick with seven minutes of normal time remaining

and Son gets in on the act with a curling finish into the far corner - Ramsdale has no chance again

as he’s taken off for Bergwijn, his work is done tonight with all three of Spurs’ goals tonight thus far

and it’s a hat-trick for Bale as he smashes home on his left foot after Aurier cut inside and put it on a plate for the Welshman

as Burke’s pull-back is dummied by Fleck and the onrushing Norwood takes it first time on the sidefoot, Lloris saves comfortably for his first save of the game and Norwood may feel he could have taken a touch - he certainly had the time to do so

and it’s Bale again as he races clear and finds the top corner with a superb finish, Son played him through and there was no chance of Basham catching up with him - no chance for Ramsdale and that should be that now

as Norwood, Stevens and Osborn combine, the latter looks to find McGoldrick with a reverse pass but it’s cut out for a corner