Ruben Selles Urges Board to Make Signings – “We Need Players To Support Us” | OneFootball

Sheffield United’s poor start to the season continued on Wednesday evening as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Birmingham City in the EFL Cup at St Andrew’s.

A much-changed Blades side, featuring ten alterations from the opening-day loss to Bristol City, struggled to find rhythm, with Ruben Selles handing a debut to midfielder Djibril Soumare.

The night began in disastrous fashion for the visitors. With just five minutes played, youngster Dovydas Sasnauskas underhit a back-pass to Adam Davies, allowing Demarai Gray to steal in and square for Kyogo Furuhashi, who tapped into an empty net.

United’s best first-half moment came on the stroke of half-time when Tom Cannon spun smartly and fired from 20 yards, only to see his effort clip the outside of the post.

The Blades found an equaliser in bizarre circumstances midway through the second half. The ball appeared to ricochet off referee Gavin Ward before dropping kindly for Gustavo Hamer, who unleashed an audacious strike from the halfway line that sailed over the back-pedalling James Beadle and into the net.

However, parity lasted only until the dying minutes. Birmingham worked the ball to the back post, where Lyndon Dykes controlled and laid off to Jay Stansfield. The striker produced a clever Cruyff turn to evade a sliding Sydie Peck before firing a low, deflected shot past Davies to secure the home side’s passage into the next round.

The result leaves Sheffield United still searching for their first win of the season, with focus now turning to Saturday’s trip to Swansea City.

Ruben Selles Reacts After Another Sheffield United Defeat

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Ruben Selles, Manager of Sheffield United, talks to the team following defeat during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Bristol City at Bramall Lane on August 09, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

Speaking after the game to SUTV as well as live on Sky Sports, head coach Ruben Selles admitted the defeat was a difficult one to take: “The game was difficult for us. I think we managed to be only 1-0 down at half time, we scored from Gustavo, and then we didn’t have the game management in the end to keep the score as it was.”

On his decision to rotate heavily, Selles said: “We made some rotation, we have a short squad and we need to give some opportunities to some of the younger players. Sometimes mistakes happen and it’s part of life. We needed to distribute the minutes and prepare some younger players for the future.”

He reiterated the need for reinforcements in the transfer market: “The situation is how it is. I’ve already said we’re looking in the market and we need players to support us. In the meantime, games like today in the cup, when we can’t condition the lineup for Saturday, are about developing our young talented players.”

Selles Reflects on Djibril Soumare’s Debut For the Blades

Meanwhile, one of the few summer signings the Blades have made thus far, Djibril Soumare featured for the first time in a United shirt, and despite lacking match sharpness, he produced a competent display in a makeshift starting eleven.

Selles reflected on the Senegalese midfielder’s debut: “Djibril played his first 60 minutes, he’s a powerful number six. He felt comfortable in the game, good touches, good position. We need to keep working on it but he’s a good addition to the team.”

With 60 minutes under his belt, he’ll certainly be looking to start on Saturday afternoon at Swansea to provide Sheffield United with some much-needed stability in the spine of the team.