SIMPLY SUB STANDARD

Blunt Blades already look sunk

SHEFFIELD UNITED manager Chris Wilder remains firmly opposed to allowing Premier League clubs to use five substitutes this season.

After this latest horrible defeat, the Blades boss should start campaigning for 11 replacements at half- time – then a few more after the break.

But even that would probably not save his team from the increasing inevitability of relegation after the worst start in Premier League history went on and on at St Mary’s yesterday.

Wilder’s team, so confident and tactically innovative for most of the last campaign, look flat and out of ideas in their second season back in the top flight. They have just one point from 12 games and Derby’s record low total of 11 in 2008 seems like a distant target.

United fell behind in the 34th minute when 38- year- old Phil Jagielka, recalled for the first time this term, headed James Ward- Prowse’s innocuous free- kick out of the arms of Aaron Ramsdale and Che Adams beat the £ 18million keeper at his near post after the ball broke loose.

“The first goal, we have got to look at ourselves there,” Wilder admitted.

“It is the latest in the catalogue of really poor goals we have conceded this season.” The Blades showed more urgency after the break but they were cut open by a ruthless Saints side.

The second goal had a big slice of fortune as Stuart Armstrong swapped passes with Danny Ings before his shot took a big deflection off Jagielka.

Then, seven minutes from time, substitute Nathan Redmond exchanged passes with Oriol Romeu before slotting home.

This time last year Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was fighting for his job. Wilder said: “They were reminiscent of how we played last year with a little bit of belief and swagger.”

And Hasenhuttl offered some encouragement to his opposite number, saying: “He will find a way out. You have to change the behaviour you have.”