Schopp set for chop as Blades cut down Tykes

MARKUS SCHOPP faces the axe at Barnsley after this latest horror show left furious fans calling for his head. The Austrian, 47, was appointed in the summer after Valerien Ismael jumped ship for West Bromwich Albion but his reign has proved disastrous. Barnsley have won only once all season and this Yorkshire derby defeat marked a sixth straight loss — extending a winless run to 12 games and leaving them second bottom. A team who finished fifth last term are staring at the dismal prospect of a relegation dogfight and unseating their manager before Halloween. Certainly much of this performance will have given Barnsley’s owners nightmares and it is understood that potential replacements for Schopp have been lined up. Asked if he expected to be in charge for Saturday’s game at Bristol City, Schopp said: ‘I am right now the coach of Barnsley. I will do everything to prepare the lads in the best possible way for the next game. ‘I know I am responsible for this situation and I totally understand the criticism from the fans, but I’m trying to find solutions.’ After a goalless first half, Sheffield United upped the tempo with two goals in three minutes shortly after the interval. Lys Mousset was United’s two-goal hero, first firing in a brilliant 51st–minute opener from 20 yard and then tapping home Ben Osborn’s cross from six yards. Cue raucous celebrations from the visiting fans. After Osborn added a third, a late fightback saw substitutes Devante Cole and Aaron Leya Iseka find the net for the struggling Tykes. Tellingly, however, Schopp steered clear of the Barnsley supporters at the final whistle, explaining: ‘I wanted to go to the fans but I had a feeling they were clapping with the players and I didn’t want to disturb this.’ Osborn said: ‘We could have had four or five. It was a pretty mad game.’ Blades manager Slavisa Jokanovic agreed, saying: ‘In the end we could have scored more.’