Despite Sheffield United being on the losing side, Roy Hodgson saw numerous positives from Paul Heckingbottom and his players following their recent match against Crystal Palace.
Even though Sheffield United had a massively weakened team, they dominated possession for extended periods, with only one goal separating the sides. Odsonne Edouard’s 49th-minute goal proved decisive, while Sheffield United fought valiantly without reaping rewards.
Paul Heckingbottom was pleased with his team’s performance, acknowledging their efforts in challenging circumstances. He believed that their makeshift starting lineup didn’t indicate any reason to be apprehensive about upcoming fixtures. Hodgson shared this sentiment, remarking that Crystal Palace will trouble many teams this season.
The 76-year-old manager mentioned that he was glad to get Sheffield United, at Bramall Lane, out of the way – noting that three points will be hard to come by for away teams.
In order for the Blades to maintain Premier League status at the end of this campaign, making Bramall Lane a fortress is a must. In the 19/20 season, United were the 8th-best home team in the league – losing just six games and only conceding 15 goals. However, in the following season, they were the 18th-best home team – losing 13 games. And ultimately, the Blades were relegated.
