Signings and survival: everything you need to know about Sheff Utd

Match previews

11 Jun 2023

Crystal Palace’s Premier League campaign gets underway Saturday 12th August (15:00 BST) at Bramall Lane – and before kick-off it’s time to get the lowdown on our opening day opponents…

Match details

Saturday 12th August
15:00 BST
Bramall Lane
LIVE audio commentary on Palace TV+

Factfile

Manager: Paul Heckingbottom
Last season: 2nd (Championship)
Nickname: The Blades
Ground: Bramall Lane
Founded: 1889 (134 years ago)

What’s the story?

After losing out in the play-offs in 2022 and being consigned to a second season in the Championship, Sheffield United made their return to the top-flight this season – and without the agony of a Wembley showdown.

After a fantastic start which saw them top the division long into October, a dip in form saw the Blades fall out of the automatic promotion places. They responded well, however, and after returning to second place in November they remained in the top-two until the final day, finishing 11 points clear of Luton Town in third.

Spirits were high heading into a first Premier League campaign since 2019/20 – but Sheffield United have been forced to act in the transfer market after losing two of their most important players.

Midfielder Sander Berge and attacker Illiman Ndiaye’s moves to Burnley and Marseille respectively have seen Paul Heckingbottom reaching for replacements, and the 24-year-old Brazilian defensive midfielder Vinicius Souza’s arrival this week will have calmed some nerves at Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United have won just one of their last nine opening day fixtures – across all divisions – and will be looking to put that record right in front of what is sure to be a raucous home crowd in the Steel City.

The boss

Paul Heckingbottom played for Sunderland, Norwich City and more during a storied career over almost two decades. His first coaching opportunity came at Barnsley – a club at which he made 49 league appearances – as an assistant manager, before taking on the top job and earning promotion from League One and victory in the Football League Trophy.

After short spells at Leeds United and Hibernian he took over at Bramall Lane in 2021, having led the Under-23s side a season prior.

A fierce defender in his playing days, where he made more than 400 appearances – including for city rivals Sheffield Wednesday – he won back-to-back Manager of the Month awards in August and September of this season, adding a third in April as Sheffield United confirmed their promotion back to the Premier League.

Inside the camps

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom:

"We have signed boys who are miles off where they are going to end up. We haven't signed anyone who is the finished article.It's a big jump up for them and we want to work with them and hopefully get them to the level.

“We are working within our budget. We are not working within a Premier League budget as such, we are a Premier League club and we have got here on merit, but we do a lot of things that attract the players and that's what we try and play on.

Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen:

“What I know from Sheffield United is that it is a typical English team. I know they play with five defenders, and they play with a lot of physicality. It is not easy to play against these teams, especially away.

“We feel good. The team is starting to shape some good form and we have had some good results lately. We played some good games against Sevilla and Lyon, so if we continue that I think we could do something fun.”

Read Andersen’s thoughts in full by clicking HERE.

Transfers

Anis Slimane (Brøndby)
Bénie Traoré (BK Häcken)
Auston Trusty (Arsenal)
Vinicius Souza (Lommel)

First five

12th August: Palace (H)
18th August: Nottingham Forest (A)
27th August: Manchester City (H)
2nd September: Everton (A)
16th September: Tottenham Hotspur (A)

The ground

Bramall Lane has a historic place in the English football landscape. Opened in 1855, it is one of only two grounds – the Oval being the other – which has hosted England internationals in both cricket and football, as well as an FA Cup final.

Holding more than 30,000 fans, the atmosphere contributed significantly to promotion this season: no Championship side won more games at home than Sheffield United – a challenging assignment for Palace's opening day, indeed.

Record against Palace

Perhaps the most famous meeting between the two came at Wembley in the 1997 Play-Off final, as David Hopkin curled into the top corner to send Palace back into the Premier League.

Sheffield United’s last season in the top-flight provided two memorable moments, both from Ebere Eze. At Selhurst Park, he picked up the ball inside his own half and rounded four defenders before slotting home. At Bramall Lane months later, he did just the same.

Did you know?

Sheffield United were the very first English team to earn promotion, winning a place in the First Division way back in the 1892/93 season. It has stood them in good stead: they have earned three promotions since 2015, having recovered from their drop into the third tier.

Nicknamed ‘The Blades’ due to Sheffield’s industrial history – their manufacturing of steel alongside their production of cutlery – the club was formed from Sheffield United Cricket Club in 1889, and were initially nicknamed ‘The Cutlers’.

Sheffield Wednesday were initially ‘The Blades’, before switching to ‘The Owls’ after moving to a new ground in Owlerton, leaving the nickname free for their cross-city rivals.

Related News

More News