Sheffield United defender Chris Basham says last season’s draw at Chelsea kick-started their season.
And Basham is hoping they can get a similar result this weekend when they revisit Stamford Bridge.
The Blades came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with the Blues in only their fourth Premier League fixture of 2019/20.
“I think that was the moment we felt we arrived in the Premier League,” Basham said in his pre-match press conference.
“We took four points last year off Chelsea and can we go again and get more points off them?”
SAKA, ANTONY AND 10 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS HEADING TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP
They face Frank Lampard’s team for the first time in West London since then on Saturday evening. They also beat them 3-0 at Bramall Lane post-lockdown.
United are in poor form in comparison to last term. They have picked up just one point from their first seven games and are the joint lowest scorers in the division with Burnley.
Basham crucial in helping Sheffield United beat Chelsea
(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
As one of the senior players in the squad, the onus is on Basham somewhat to help his younger teammates through this difficult period.
The South Yorkshire side relied on an impressive defensive record last term to finish ninth in the table in their first top flight campaign in 12 years.
Only top three Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United conceded fewer than the Blades as they secured their highest league position since 1992.
Basham has played in every league game since Chris Wilder’s team were promoted in 2019. The 32-year-old is one of the overlapping centre-backs in Wilder’s famous system.
Yet with Jack O’Connell absent this season, United have lacked the same dynamism going forwards. Alan Shearer recently criticised them for their lack of crosses into the box.
Basham would often be delivering those and needs to lead by example, starting this weekend. Especially if they are to continue their great run against Chelsea.
