Sheffield United have one cause for hope despite record-breaking start to the Championship season

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It’s been a nightmare start to the season for Sheffield United, and Saturday was perhaps the final nail in the coffin.

Charlton Athletic left it until the 90th minute to find a winner against the Blades at Bramall Lane, as Chris Wilder’s first game since returning to S2 ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat.

It meant that Sheffield United lost their sixth successive Championship game, becoming the first side to start a league campaign with that record since Wycombe Wanderers in 2020/21.

Nevertheless, there were some positives for the home side on Saturday, and they are not as far away from being a good team as the league table shows. However, there is one significant problem that is plaguing them currently.

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Sheffield United are significantly underperforming their xG

Few expected the Blades to start the season as poorly as they have, and after Ruben Selles was sacked earlier this month, Wilder has plenty of work to do to get this team moving in the right direction.

However, statistically, Sheffield United are not exactly playing as poorly as their results may suggest. Their football is attacking, and they have made the fifth most progressive passes in the division, as well as the fourth most progressive carries.

Only Southampton have had more possession in the Championship, yet it is in front of goal where the issues lie, with the Blades having only found the back of the net once in their first six league games.

Despite this, Wilder’s side do have an xG rate of 5.6, as per FBref. While this is already the third lowest in the division, they are underperforming greatly in front of goal, and Sheffield United are the least clinical side in the second tier.

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How Chris Wilder can make Sheffield United an attacking force

Tyrese Campbell is the only Blades player to have found the back of the net in the league so far in 2025/26, with Tom Cannon still struggling for form.

The Sheffield United players are happy to see Wilder return, and it is vital that the 57-year-old brings confidence back to the team after they were rocked by Tommy Watson’s 95th minute play-off final winner back in May.

The hangover of that defeat has been like a dark cloud above them over the last few months, and this rut will continue until they put that moment behind them.

Yet, Sheffield United also have to use the ball more efficiently. Having possession is of course useful, but they are not creating enough clear-cut chances with it. Their shots are coming from an average distance of 17.9 yards, and they need to be lowering this to make it easier for their strikers to find the back of the net.