Southampton vs Sheffield United

EFL Championship Matchweek 28 - Tuesday 21st January 2026 - 19:45 - St. Mary's
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Player Ratings:
Matchday Stats/Player Ratings - https://www.s24su.com/forum/match-day/match/southampton-vs-sheffield-united.778/

Officials:

Referee: Thomas Kirk
Assistants: Matthew Smith & Sam Lewis
Fourth Official: Andrew Humphries

Coverage:

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Live TV Coverage:



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[Nick Jansky]

Is anybody else getting Bryan Robson vibes watching this team? Slow, ponderous build up playwith no clue what to do when and if we get to the final third. Overpaid shit in the side, a Manager well past his sell by date. Uncanny.

Nope. We’ve regularly been scoring 3 in games. Flat track bullies though. No consistency or heart.

 

[Matlock Blade]

In my opinion the owners need to do a serious look at potential replacements for Wilder. They got it wrong last time by appointing a manager with the worst CV possible!

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

This is the worst I have seen for almost 40 yrs tonight

You win the Forum Drama Queen of the week prize.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

In my opinion the owners need to do a serious look at potential replacements for Wilder. They got it wrong last time by appointing a manager with the worst CV possible!

No.
We tried a new manager and that was a disaster, proving Wilder is the only person who can manage us.

 

[harrry1990s]

We’re a team without a clear identity - we need to finish the season and hope for something better.

 

[The Fox]

Not seen or listened to match due to other commitments, however maybe it was a bit crap by all accounts but hardly the best 11 out there ..it happens.

Citeh for all thier powers got beat by some Eskimos last night , and have 4 centrebacks out injured despite all thier squad ,money and God like manager .

Just saying when your a weakened team you stand a chance of getting beat by anyone , never mind a decent side .
roll on Saturday.

 

[54yrblade]

According to Danny Hall, Wilder says we 'had a right go" tonight.

Delusional. He used to call a game as we saw it. Self preservation mode now in flow.

 

[jt64]

Second half was slightly better, but still complete shit

 

[Alex Cheeseright]

Even if we go on to wiin this it's only asking the fact that the coaching and tactics are not good enough

Most optimistic post this season.

 

[jt64]

According to Danny Hall, Wilder says we 'had a right go" tonight.

Delusional. He used to call a game as we saw it. Self preservation mode now in flow.

Why would he be in self preservation mode? If he was sacked half the fanbase would be crying about it and he'd be back in a job in a couple of months

 

[Blade In Flame]

You win the Forum Drama Queen of the week prize.

I can only deduce that you have Silky Sabella on ignore then.

 

[utd4ever]

Not seen or listened to match due to other commitments, however maybe it was a bit crap by all accounts but hardly the best 11 out there ..it happens.

Citeh for all thier powers got beat by some Eskimos last night , and have 4 centrebacks out injured despite all thier squad ,money and God like manager .

Just saying when your a weakened team you stand a chance of getting beat by anyone , never mind a decent side .
roll on Saturday.

Too true. You include Spurs. TF getting some serious stick but loads of players out.

we are missing our two CD and midfield is pretty shot but I’m sure the last few months we will give it a good go and finish 6th

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

We were second best to most second balls tonite.

 

[Sean Thornton]

According to Danny Hall, Wilder says we 'had a right go" tonight.

Delusional. He used to call a game as we saw it. Self preservation mode now in flow.

Far better second half but l wouldn’t call it “a right go”.

 

[Silky Sabella]

I can only deduce that you have Silky Sabella on ignore then.

Nice one Flame

 

[toledo]

Except for the Bamford effort, we were very limp tonight.

What causes me anguish is that the game was there to be won tonight but at no point in the game did we look like we would win because our midfield was soft, front two hardly in the game, and we had no tactical plan to win.

Only when Hamer and Bamford came in did we have any impetus.

And if this was the object of the game plan, I completely disagree on not being aggressive from the off to try to win the game… we are not safe yet and need points

 

[Silky Sabella]

Too true. You include Spurs. TF getting some serious stick but loads of players out.

we are missing our two CD and midfield is pretty shot but I’m sure the last few months we will give it a good go and finish 6th

Biggest difference is Thomas Frank is tactically astute and a nice guy, wilder is the total opposite on both counts.

 

[Thrice]

It's a shame because looking at the league a lot could've been/should've been possible this year. But tonight's result will have killed any remaining hope and enthusiasm to maybe save the season.

There probably will be a lot of uncertainty going into next season and the owners will have to show what they're about with no parachute money to count on.

 

[Keen Blade]

We are dropping deep too fast and have no pressure on their midfielders who are always available for the ball. Campbell and Chong are only going through the motions. Their press is half hearted. Hoever is an idiot

Half this squad can just feck off.
Trouble is , no one would have them

 

[Keen Blade]

We can't compete when we rotate because outside of 7-8 players, most of our squad is league 1 level

And that's where we'll soon be

 

[Keen Blade]

How is Wrong still on the pitch?

We spent £ on his feet and long contract

 

[ThirdGenBlade]

Only a fool leaves his best players on the bench against a weak side and loses - and then plays them against a strong side - and probably loses again. Opportunity is a guest that never overstays their welcome.

As my grandmother used to say - Gather ye rosebuds while ye may!

UTB & FTP!

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

There has been a long held assumption on by some on here that the return of Oli Arblaster after his long injury would bring about a significant improvement in our performances and solve any of the midfield weaknesses we had shown so far this season .

I always had severe reservations about this line of thought , on the basis that (a) - he he has never shown that he is that kind of player and (b) history shows that after such an injury very few players quickly return to the level they were at before and in some cases , sadly never do .

Whilst it is true that many other players in Wilder’s bizarre team selection last night offered very little , his performance was one of the worst .

I dearly hope that he can recover the promise that he previously showed , but it is abundantly clear that at present he is nowhere near that level and that at best , he should only merit a place on the bench .

 

[Keen Blade]

Not the first time we’ve seen capitulation like this. Wherever the problems lie, someone/some people needs to get their act together soon. We’re going to lose players, parachute payments have gone and the Championship may not be as poor again.

It time to stop putting the blame at the feet of Selles though.

The very sad aspect is that the players we'll lose are our talented academy lads and the ones we'll be stuck with are our poor but expensive signings who are on nice contracts which no other club would match.

 

[Keen Blade]

That assumes that the “strongest team” is available and not below par from having played a few days before.
You cannot expect players to be at their best if they play all the games.

Overpaid athletes can't run around for 90 mins twice in 4 days ?
Bollox

 

[Keen Blade]

Why would he be in self preservation mode? If he was sacked half the fanbase would be crying about it and he'd be back in a job in a couple of months

Because he loves being manager of his beloved club , however crap he is

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Yes, earlier, rejected

i'm shocked.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I’m not being funny but this club is rotting slowly

Our players are so out of shape it’s unreal.

Recruitment is well below standard.

The squad is about as far from a bunch of Sheffield United players as I can remember.

And the worst is I don’t think we’ve reached rock bottom yet.

This.

 

[54yrblade]

Because he loves being manager of his beloved club , however crap he is

Wilder needs us more than we need him and, at some point, we will have to move on to another manager.

 

[Snowflake]

Overpaid athletes can't run around for 90 mins twice in 4 days ?
Bollox

Of course they can, but will they produce their best performance if they do. A small amount of tiredness can make a difference in the crucial decision making.