Are Sheffield United on their way back to the Premier League?

Sheffield United have started the season well and are currently sitting at the top of the Championship.

We’ve looked into the stats from their impressive season so far and analysed what they will need to do to get over the line. 

How last season went 

Sheffield United’s slow start ultimately cost them a place in the top two last season. 

Slavisa Jokanovic only won five out of his 12 games in charge of Sheffield United and he was ultimately sacked in November 2021, with the Blades sat 16th in the Championship. 

Paul Heckingbottom was appointed as his replacement and they soon flew up the league with a run of six wins from eight throughout January and February. 

Under Heckingbottom last season the Blades averaged 1.92 points per game, which averaged out over an entire season would give them 88.59 points. 

For context, that would have seen them finish last season in second place, marginally better off than Bournemouth who finished on 88 points. 

In the end it wasn’t to be for Sheffield United as they were knocked out of the playoffs by Nottingham Forest on penalties in the semi-final. 

Sheffield United had an array of talent, but their main man last season was Morgan Gibbs-White who was on loan from Wolves. 

The loanee scored 12 goals and got 10 assists and people questioned whether or not they would be the same team without him next season. 

Their defensive structure 

Paul Heckingbottom’s side have been one of the tightest defences in the Championship so far this season. 

They have only conceded five goals in their opening 10 matches, which if averaged over an entire season would see them concede just 23 goals. 

They have only conceded 9.2 shots per game, which is the third fewest of any Championship club. 

The Blades have managed to keep six clean sheets from their first 10 matches, which is only bettered by Preston North End. 

Wes Foderingham hasn’t had all too much to do in goal, but he has been as reliable as ever when called upon. 

So far the goalkeeper has faced just 22 shots on target and he has managed to save 17 of those, giving him a save percentage of 77.3% - which is the third highest save ratio in the Championship. 

As well as being a threat in the final third, Anel Ahmedhodzic has also had a substantial impact on the Blades back line. 

They don’t tend to dominate possession as they have averaged just over 50% this season, but there is a real emphasis on winning the ball back in dangerous positions. 

On average, they win 20.2 tackles per game which is the most of any Championship club. 

Sheff United have also been good at defending set-pieces as they have only conceded from one set-piece situation this season.  

If they manage to stay this defensively resilient for the entire season then they will almost certainly be right up there come the end of the year. 

How they score goals 

Scoring goals hasn’t been a problem for Sheffield United this season, even without Gibbs-White this time around. 

Last season under Heckingbottom they were averaging 1.48 goals per game and they have managed to increase that tally this time around. 

They have been averaging 1.9 goals per game and they currently lead the way in the Championship for goals scored, along with Bristol City, with 19 goals already. 

If they manage to maintain that current ratio they will end the season having scored 87.4 goals, which was more than the likes of Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest scored last season. 

The Blades take an average of 14.2 shots per game, which is the third most in the Championship. They also average 5.5 shots on target per game, which is more than any other Championship club. 

Keeping hold of Sander Berge also cannot be underestimated and the fact that they have found the perfect role for him in this side. 

The Norwegian international has chipped in with six goal contributions this season and is clearly a class above the Championship.