Manager set to be first Premier League boss sacked this season after dismal weekend display

Having played some five months of the 23/24 campaign, we are set for the first managerial casualty.

It was a weekend of poor results for Manchester United’s under-fire Erik ten Hag and Nottingham Forest’s Steve Cooper.

However, as per the Athletic, Sheffield United are expected to sack manager Paul Heckingbottom following a 5-0 defeat against Burnley on Saturday.

The result saw United drop below Burnley and Everton to the foot of the Premier League table.

Sheffield United have won just one of the 14 top-flight games this term, having conceded the most goals (39) and scored the fewest (11) across the league.

The Athletic claims United will announce Heckingbottom’s dismissal “in due course”.

Meanwhile, Matt Law of the Telegraph is claiming former Blades boss Chris Wilder is in line to replace Heckingbottom.

Should the reports come to fruition, United would be the first Premier League side to part ways with their manager this season, a stark contrast to last term when Scott Parker was sacked by Bournemouth in August after only four games.

Heckingbottom was appointed in November 2021, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal.

United had taken an encouraging four points from two games heading into the international break, including a first league win of the season against Wolves and a hard-fought point at Brighton.

However, they were subsequently outplayed by Bournemouth in a 3-1 defeat at Bramall Lane, and were then humbled by Burnley.

On Saturday, United conceded in the first minute and were down to 10 men before half-time after Oli McBurnie received two yellow cards.

United have struggled in their return to the Premier League, with their only other point of the season having come in a 2-2 draw with Everton in September.

Since their return to the top flight they have been battered 8-0 by Newcastle, their worst ever loss at Bramall Lane, while they were also beaten 5-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates in October.

At this stage in the season United have recorded fewer points than Derby County managed in their infamous 2007/08 campaign, where the Rams accumulated a Premier League record low points-tally of 11 across the season.

Topics: Football, Sheffield United, Premier League

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.