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Clinical edge lacking as United bow out in cup

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The Blades went out in the first round of the league cup last night with a 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion. Paul Heckingbottom fielded a different formation of 4-3-3, with first starts for Khadra and McAtee both playing up front on either side of Brewster.

Heckingbottom also gave a start to young talented midfielder Oli Arblaster after having a very good pre-season. His performance last night was equally as impressive and you can see why he is being talked up a lot.

Although they were some promising individual performances, United still came away from this game feeling disappointed, Heckingbottom said in his post match interview:

“Some good bits but disappointed to lose. I thought the game was there for us to win but we didn’t take our chances and they took theirs when they got a couple. Especially the first half we had some real big moments but weren’t clinical.” [Sheffield United YouTube]

The Sheffield United manager paid tribute to Arblaster’s performance in particular after the game:

“The biggest compliment you can pay those young players is West Brom, even though they had more experience out than us, had to match our diamond 2nd half because of how well we played in the 1st half.” [Sheffield United YouTube]

Heckingbottom added:

“He did great. He gets the game, handles the ball well and it highlights to him the jump up. Pleased he’s got his debut, he can be proud and we’ll get him his shirt signed. It’s a big difference and he’ll have felt it but it’ll do him good.” [Sheffield United YouTube]

United may be without the versatility of Ben Osborn for a while. Osborn came on at half time for John Fleck but then had to be substituted himself after suffering a muscle injury.

Paul Heckingbottom detailed the concern over Osborn:

“He came off with, I would say a recurrence because we scanned the hamstring, but some sort of problem with his hamstring. He was feeling it and it began to restrict him. Why take the risk?” [Sheffield United YouTube]

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