Sheffield United 0 Charlton Athletic 2: Wilson determined to sharpen Blades with Webber on radar

The Blades have lost three out of the last four league games and dropped to sixth in the League One table.

Wilson is looking to inject extra ‘pace and energy’ into his attack and wants to rectify the issue this week.

Against unbeaten league leaders Charlton Athletic , the Blades paid a heavy price for two defensive lapses.

Substitute Yann Kermorgant scored with a free header at a corner and a slip from defender Neill Collins allowed Bradley Wright-Phillips to burst clear and score the second.

However, speaking afterwards, Wilson stressed that his biggest concerns centre on the shortage of attacking options at Bramall Lane.

Since selling Jordan Slew and Daniel Bogdanovic on transfer deadline day, the Blades have been relying on three strikers – Ched Evans, Chris Porter, and Richard Cresswell – all relatively similar in style. The younger options, Danny Philliskirk and Erik Tonne, have struggled to make the bench.

The situation would not be so bad if the paperwork for the transfer of Rangers strikers John Fleck and Kyle Hutton had been lodged in time with the Football League on deadline day.

Both deals were done late, however, and the club is now feeling the impact.

“Our options, quite honestly, are limited,” said Wilson. “We have three strikers fighting for two places and maybe a bit of competition is needed.

“Getting people in has been an absolute nightmare,” he added. “We can’t pay massive money – we know that – but, at the same time, it is a difficult situation to get strikers to come out.

“You’re not going to let your best strikers out and most managers want someone available in case something happens.

“We have been trying for a while and we are still working on it. We need that energy and pace up the top that we haven’t got. That’s going to be a big help to us if we can get that.”

Former Blades striker Danny Webber is one possible target – unable to find a new club since being released by Portsmouth in the summer.

He has trained with Queens Park Rangers, who are managed by Neil Warnock, but would jump at the opportunity of a return north.

Talks have also been held with James Beattie, another former Blade released by Rangers, but his wage demands and fitness levels are an obstacle.

The Blades made the brighter start on Saturday and were unlucky not to go ahead when Collins’s header was blocked on the line by Charlton captain Johnnie Jackson.

But Charlton are arguably the most organised team in the division and won the midfield battles.

Kevin McDonald – whose talent was hailed by Wilson in the build-up to the game – made little if any impact for the Blades and captain Michael Doyle was not on his top game.

It will be a major surprise if Nick Montgomery, kept on the bench after returning from a six-game injury absence, is not back in the side tomorrow against Rotherham United.

The game was going nowhere until Charlton manager Chris Powell sent on substitute Kermogant with just under half-an-hour left to play.

Kermogant duly scored with his first touch – rising to head home a corner from Dale Stephens.

It was the French striker’s second goal in two games since joining Charlton from Leicester City.

Wright-Phillips could have scored a second for the visitors but shot wide after going past Harry Maguire and Collins.

It was only a temporary reprieve for the Blades, however, as the Charlton striker made it 2-0 when Collins lost the ball and Steve Simonsen was unable to block.

Although substitute Cresswell brought a fine save from goalkeeper Ben Hamer and Evans hit the post in stoppage time, the Blades could have few complaints about the result.

Charlton looked worthy table-toppers and, while the Blades have made an impressive start to the season, they still need to prove that they are a match for the division’s pace-setters.

With games against Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday in the next fortnight, they have an opportunity to put that right.

Wilson said: “Irrespective of the result against Charlton, we would still have been happy with our league position.

“We are challenging and we have got a lot of games in front of us and some very important parts of the season that reap their rewards and give you a bit of distance and some breathing space.

“I don’t think any of the defeats have been bad performances – quite the opposite,” he added. “ “I feel slightly aggrieved because we have made three mistakes in the last two games and been punished every time.

“It’s a bit unfortunate in that respect, it’s a bit unfair but what’s fair about football?”

The attendance of 20,743 was the biggest at Bramall Lane so far this season.

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Lowton, Collins, Maguire, Jean-Francois; Williamson (Flynn 73), Doyle, McDonald, Quinn; Porter (Cresswell 67), Evans. Unused substitutes: Montgomery, Long, Parrino.

Charlton Athletic: Hamer; Solly; Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins; Wagstaff (Hughes 86), Stephens, Hollands, Jackson; Wright-Phillips (Green 78), Hayes (Kermorgant 63). Unused substitutes: Sullivan, Cort.

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).