Watford 1 Sheffield United 0: Reaction as João Pedro's winner condemns Blades to opening-day defeat
and live on Freeview channel 276
Here’s how the action unfolded, with reaction from both camps.
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Watford v Blades LIVE
How the Blades plan to do things differently this season
Seven days ago, when Sheffield United’s players reported for training at the Randox Health Academy, they noticed a subtle change of atmosphere.
The tension was heightened. The focus felt sharper. And once the session began, tackles were being executed with much more venom than they had a week before.
“There’s always a totally different feel to it, when you’re actually preparing for a proper game,” Paul Heckingbottom said, describing his squad’s preparations for tonight’s visit to Watford - its first match of the new Championship campaign.
“You can see it in the lads. You can almost feel the change in them too. I’m the same as well. It’s down to business now and, do you know what? I’m really looking forward to it.”
A new look for the Blades tonight
United will wear their new home kit at Watford tonight - a very classy number, for my money, and one of their best in recent years for sure, if not all time - what do you make of it?
Should this be the Blades’ starting XI at Watford tonight?
We’ll have the full team news for you at 7pm, of course, but our man James Shield stepped into Hecky’s shoes recently and had a go at picking his best Blades XI for tonight’s game ... let us know what you reckon!
M A T C H D A Y
and at long last, the Blades are back in competitive action this evening away at Watford - it seems an eternity since that play-off heartbreak against Forest back in early May but the Blades have regrouped, made some good additions to their squad and are looking to go one better. And what better place to show your promotion credentials than away at one of the fellow favourites, first up?
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