As a fan of neither Sheffield club who visits periodically, I read this club with some interest and a bit of surprise.
- Always had Sheffield United down to have had one of the better home atmospheres in modern times.
- Had Sheffield United down as one of the sides down who significantly missed fans during a full season of lockdown. Sheffield United were one, Leeds arguably although their results said otherwise another. Liverpool for sure, arguably Leicester, Wolves and to an extent Burnley given Turf Moor is a smaller ground by PL standards.
- Conversely perhaps Aston Villa and West Ham in their more counterattack emphasis games didn't so much, Aston Villa maybe as they were quite counterattacking last year. Less emphasis and pressure from fans to push high from the off in an empty stadium.
- What a poster said about fans would be bang up for it after a year out. Assumed it might be the case at a lot of grounds but I'm not sure that's been the case universally certainly.
On the general support point, absolutely it makes a difference I think. My side finally ended a home run Saturday, an unbelievably bad one vs your local rivals Barnsley.
Without going into much detail we didn't win a competitive home game at AG since Tuesday January 26th 2021, in front of fans on a Wednesday night v Derby in February 2020 and v Barnsley again v fans on a Saturday on Saturday 18th January 2020.
We conceded late equalisers at home ie 90 or later v Blackpool, Luton and then full on implosion vs Nottingham Forest the other week. 1-0 up, lost 2-1. Penalty and then winner, unbelievable!
I digress. Basically what struck me about Saturday was that last 10-15 mins, fans were fantastic. Only a goal up with that relatively traumatic backdrop and then suddenly the fans upped the levels.
Persistent chants of 'Red Army', Come on You Reds and just generally just urged the side on. Would be so easy in that scenario to just go quiet and nervous- fans needed the team to dig in and yes ride some luck and the team absolutely needed that backing. Without it, if the understandable scenario occurs think we perhaps go back level and utter deflation having thrown away yet more home points, despite turning it round to 2-1.
Ironically though the first win, one of our lesser performances probably at home but the fans really got behind the side in the last 10-15. Does it help, can it push a side that hit further? Hell yes. IMO anyway.