Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell feels it is unfair that fans are calling for him to be sacked after the team's slide down the table.

After losing to Burnley in the Championship play-off final last season, the Blades were again expected to mount a strong push for promotion this term.

However, Saturday's 4-3 defeat at home by Cardiff City saw United slip to 13th in the table following a run of six league games without a win.

Fans called for Blackwell's dismissal in the Bramall Lane car park after the match, but the former Leeds United boss believes he is working under difficult circumstances.

"Things are tough," admitted Blackwell. "I've been through something like this before, but not with the amount of injuries.

"The fans weren't calling for me to go last year, were they? No one should have to deal with that rubbish.

"Everything that can go wrong at the moment is going wrong.

"The squad is very thin and we can't carry long-term injures, suspensions or loss of form in anybody. And that is exactly where we are."

Blackwell experienced a similar situation while in charge of Leeds once the Premier League's parachute payments ended and he concedes it is impacting on his job at Bramall Lane.

He added: "The frustration is not being allowed to build on what you achieved last season. That is what happened at Leeds and it's not a good practice."