Sheffield United's ominous stat, Leeds United's VAR frustration, Barnsley continue to impress, FA Cup progress - Yorkshire football talking points

Both Sheffield United and Leeds United suffered defeats in the Premier League while Barnsley and Rotherham United secured big wins in the Championship.

Huddersfield Town, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday had to settle for a point in their games while there was FA Cup progress for Bradford City, Harrogate Town, Hull City and Doncaster Rovers.

Here are the five big talking points from another exciting weekend.

Ominous stat for Sheffield United

The Blades 4-1 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday evening meant they will spend the international break bottom of the Premier League table with one point from eight games.

It is the joint-worst return at this point of a season, matching the unwanted record set by Manchester City in 1995-96 and then matched by Southampton in 1998-99, Sheffield Wednesday in 1999-00 and Sunderland in 2013-14.

Of those four teams, two were relegated. The Blades had picked up nine points at this stage last term but their current start is the worst they have endured under Chris Wilder.

However, Wilder insisted after the defeat at Stamford Bridge: “You have to be realistic, the teams we have been up against will not decide our future.

"If we only win one of our next 10 games, that will possibly decide our future.

“Because you will be sat after 18 games halfway through the season with half a dozen points on the table, which won’t be enough to get you out of the situation you are in."

Can Sheffield United regain their form that almost propelled them into Europe last season? They will certainly hope so.

Bielsa not pointing the finger after VAR controversy

VAR was supposed to take the controversy out of Premier League games but it has only added to it.

Sunday afternoon saw more contentious penalty decisions given against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool but Leeds United have every right to feel they were the team who were hardest done by the video assistant at the weekend.

Trailing 1-0 at Crystal Palace, Patrick Bamford thought he had levelled for the Whites, when he finished from Mateusz Klich's pass. However, after a review, the top of his arm was in an offside position as he pointed where he wanted the pass to be played and the goal was ruled out.

The hosts doubled their lead soon after, as Leeds fell to a 4-1 defeat for the second game running.

“The defeat is fair but the difference is exaggerated and the goals Crystal Palace scored arrived at the time when we deserved to score,” reflected Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa.

“Whatever the referee whistles, he whistles and I never comment on his decision. If the rules need to be changed, there is a lot of people dedicated to this.”

Barnsley win again under Valerian Ismael

Barnsley's win over Derby County on Saturday afternoon propelled them higher up the Championship table as Valerian Ismael made it four wins from three games since taking charge at Oakwell.

The Tykes were 21st when Ismael was appointed but now sit 16th heading into the international break. They have beaten Queens Park Rangers, Watford and Derby without conceding a goal with their only defeat coming in a 3-0 loss to Cardiff City last week.

Huddersfield stop a Luton Town clean sweep in Yorkshire

Luton Town have enjoyed their trips to Yorkshire this season. Prior to their visit to Huddersfield Town, Nathan Jones's side had won 1-0 at Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley.

They took the lead against the Terriers after 21 minutes but Carlos Corberan's side responded well and equalised on the hour through Ajax loanee Carel Eiting. The hosts were the better team after going behind and created plenty of chances but Corberan felt a draw was the fair result.

The former Leeds United Under-23s head coach has been delighted by how quickly his players have embraced his style of play.

The fear of relegation has been a constant source of worry for Terriers fans in the last two seasons but after an encouraging start this season, not many supporters will have sleepless nights over their side's Championship credentials this term.

FA Cup progress for Yorkshire clubs

It was the perfect weekend for Yorkshire's League One and Two clubs in the FA Cup. All four sides - Harrogate Town, Bradford City, Hull City and Doncaster Rovers - advanced to the second round of the competition.

Harrogate kicked off the clean sweep with a comfortable 4-1 win over non-league Skelmersdale United, scoring their first goal after just 46 seconds.

Bradford City also faced non-league opposition and recorded one of their biggest wins in the competition with a 7-0 thrashing of Tonbridge Angels.

Hull City were the only side to face Football League opposition and recorded an impressive 2-0 win over Fleetwood Town, gaining revenge for a league defeat earlier in the season.

Doncaster Rovers made sure there was no giant killing in their fixture as they breezed past FC United of Manchester with a 5-1 success.