When the 31st of October happens to fall on a match day, there are two things a set of fans can expect. A trick or a treat?
For Sheffield United fans, it’s certainly the former. In the last twenty years, the Blades have played four times on Halloween. Losing every single one of the games. In the most recent three Man City (2020), QPR (2017) and Crewe Alexandra (2015), the Blades have been haunted by three consecutive Halloween 1-0 defeats.
Against Arsenal in 2007, the Blades lost 3-0, so at least the horror shows are improving with time.
For a bit of fun let’s take a Halloween walk down spooky memory lane.
Blades 0 – 3 Arsenal 2007 Carling Cup
The Blades were no match for Wenger’s side who easily went through to the quarter finals with Denilson also scoring in a Halloween to forget.
The Beginning of the 1-0 Curse, Crewe Alexandra 2015
If someone asked you to picture a goal scorer for Crewe Alexandra against the Blades it is likely you might think of Ryan Colclough.
The Crewe winger seemed to love a goal at Bramall Lane and on Halloween night 2015 he made the Blades trip to Crewe, a scary one.
Whether you believe in ghosts or ghouls or not you have to admit there is something spooky about League One’s then bottom club, Crewe getting their first win in 15 home games against us.
The Haunting of Holloway, QPR 2017
All was going to plan for the Blades before the Halloween 2017. Top of the Championship on our first season back at the level and a trip to Loftus Road to cap off a good bit of early season form.
Although, Ian Holloway’s team had other plans, a goal from Idrissa Sylla and an easy chance missed by Jack O’ Connell. Made it so the Blades had a long trip back to Sheffield on the spookiest night of the year. Not to mention the side also fell to 2nd in the table.
After the game Wilder told Sky Sports: ” It’s not been a good night. It’s maybe a little reality check. Everybody’s received an enormous amount of praise. I thought we took a backward step tonight.”
Walker’s nightmare return, Manchester City 2020
Likely the easiest of the results to take as not only were the opponents Manchester City, but United actually were quite unlucky not to get a point.
Walker scored a thunderous strike from outside the box on the 28th minute but otherwise the Blades were defensively sound.
Perhaps, a sign that the Blades Halloween fortunes might be turning around?
Takeaways
The Blades form on Halloween likely means that we should be lobbying government to prevent the 31st Day of October ever falling on a Saturday or Tuesday ever again.
On the bright side, Happy Halloween everybody, because the Blades aren’t playing tonight.
