Sheffield United’s recent 8-0 defeat to Newcastle United shouldn’t be the sole basis for evaluating the team, according to a former Premier League manager, Martin O’Neill. Drawing on his own experience with Leicester City’s promotion to the Premier League in 1996/97, O’Neill highlighted the challenges that newly promoted sides face and the significance of early points. Leicester secured four points from their first two games but then lost their next four, yet the initial success gave them confidence in their ability to compete.
O’Neill cautioned against overreacting to Sheffield United’s heavy defeat and emphasized the need for them to secure a win soon. He acknowledged that a single game should not define a team’s performance and pointed out that securing a victory could significantly impact their season. O’Neill also noted that other newly promoted teams had earned points in the league, highlighting the importance of that first win in turning the season around.