Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe has pleaded with fans "not to make things worse" for manager Kevin Blackwell following the club's indifferent start to the season.

The Blades have slipped to 11th place in the Championship after failing to win any of their last four league games and despite a spate of injuries and the loss of the Premier League's parachute payments, there are already murmurings of discontent among the terraces at Bramall Lane.

McCabe said: "Let's not make a big crisis out of what has happened. There is a blame critical culture in football these days when things do not go the right way. But I want fans to get behind their team - not make things worse for Kevin.

"We know we're going through a difficult period. Injuries, a much-changed squad featuring younger players can affect consistency of performance.

"We know that results are not great at the moment. But let me assure all supporters that everyone at Sheffield United is working hard to fulfil its potential and we should all remember we have had to re-profile the squad to ensure the club remains strong against the backdrop of a changed economic situation and a loss in parachute payments."

Blackwell was without 10 first-team players for Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Scunthorpe and could name only six substitutes on the bench, with Jamie Ward (broken wrist), Richard Cresswell (ribs), Lee Williamson (back), Derek Geary, Gary Naysmith, James Harper, Nick Montgomery (all knee), Paddy Kenny (drugs ban) and latterly Andrew Davies (knee) all sidelined.