Why Sheffield United can’t afford to risk FA Cup defeat against Bristol Rovers

Sheffield United's Rhian Brewster could have a better chance of getting his Blades account up and running in the FA Cup tie. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

With their Premier League position desperate, 12 points from safety after only 17 games, Sheffield United would have more reason than most to opt out of this season’s competition and concentrate on the league. Under the circumstances, though, they would be wise to do what they can to be in the fourth-round hat.

The odds are in their favour. Bristol Rovers are also fighting relegation, from League One.

But it is 177 days since the Blades last tasted victory in a competitive game, a 3-0 win over Chelsea. They need to get that feeling back. Strikers Rhian Brewster and Oliver Burke could really do with scoring first goals for the club.

STRENGTH: Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder. Picture: David Klein/Sportimage

Brushing aside a third-tier team, like finding the net against them, would be a bit hollow – hardly the shot in the arm that could rescue a season. But imagine how disastrous for morale losing – even on penalties, as they did at Burnley in the League Cup in September – could be.

It was painfully clear at Selhurst Park at the weekend how short belief is.

As soon as Jeffrey Schlupp put Crystal Palace in front resignation hung in the cold south London air. The Eagles only scored once more, through Eberechi Eze, yet once Schlupp’s fourth-minute opener hit the back of the net, you never felt there was going to be any outcome other than a 15th defeat of the season.

With only six substitutes named on Saturday (nine are permitted in the Premier League), if players are rested in Bristol there will probably have to be more teenage debutants like Antwoine Hackford, who came of footballing age at the weekend.

The Blades have played better than their points tally suggests. For a while that can provide solace but drag on too long, as it has now, and it just adds to the feeling of doom. When a side has made such a habit of playing reasonably well and consistently losing, it can grind them down.

The gloom needs lifting desperately.

Hackford’s debut provided a shaft of light but a 10-minute cameo which, while encouraging, did not produce a goal can only do so much.

There will be no Sander Berge-style signing as there was last January. The Blades will restrict themselves to two loans and given what they would be signing up to, it is hard to imagine anyone who will blow their socks off.

By his own admission, manager Chris Wilder has been a broken record this season telling his players their kickstart must come from within. A Cup win in the West Country is unlikely to do that, but defeat would be a blow they would struggle to take. They must not pick a team that risks it.

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