Optimism tempered by realism rippled through the stands as Martin’s first home game kicked off and his side started in confident fashion, looking to pop the ball about at every opportunity. 

It almost went disastrously wrong right from the start though as Steven Benda so nearly got caught out with the ball at his feet again, just as he was in costly fashion the week before when he was robbed and then deemed guilty of giving away a penalty for what turned out to be the winning goal.

This time the big German keeper got lucky as his slow reactions allowed David McGoldrick to charge down his kick and there was a collective holding of breath by thousands as the ball shot past the post.

Benda allowed himself a wry and rather sheepish smile, knowing he’d well and truly dodged a bullet, whilst the crowd let out the breath they’d been collectively holding and went back to singing and chanting in support of the home side.

The players responded accordingly, passing and probing, new signing Flynn Downes in particular at the heart of things. Occupying a deep lying spot next to his new skipper Matt Grimes, Downes did his best to dictate play, buzzing around and demanding the ball at every opportunity and popping it off constructively as soon as he received it.

The probing almost paid dividends as makeshift right wing back Joel Latibeaudiere found himself with space inside the box from Cullen’s set up, but his right footed shot was blocked. The rebound was also blocked but that was as much due to Cullen slipping at the crucial moment as it was down to good defending.

The home side kept up the pressure and Downes quickly found himself with a shooting opportunity and with the East Stand encouraging him to shoot, he let fly from distance but his effort was well over the top.

The little flurry in the final third ground to a halt though and the Blades hit back on the counter, but Benda was well behind McGoldrick’s effort.

Billy Sharp was the next to test Benda, heading goal-wards from a free kick, but in keeping with the rest of the half the finishing was poor. It didn’t seem to overly bother the home crowd who were delighted to see the Blades fluff their lines and content to watch their own side dominate possession whilst attempting to attack and create chances even if the ambition didn’t come off.

And so the fans were largely happy as the first period drew to a close even though their side had failed to register a shot on target despite having more than 65% of the football!

The first half had kind of petered out, taking on the air of a testimonial for the last ten, but within a few minutes of the restart the heat got turned up from slow simmer to boiling. It was referee Keith Stroud moving the dial really as he booked Matt Grimes for a fairly routine challenge. Having seen the away side indulge in a few far more “robust” challenges without punishment, the yellow for the Swans captain cranked up the noise among the home fans.

And the heat continued to rise as the Blades escaped with a few more questionable challenges. It didn’t help that former Swan Brewster – cutting an isolated and frustrated figure out on the wing – adopted the ‘Norman Wisdom’ approach to front play, falling over in comedy fashion whenever a challenge came near him.

Brewster wasn’t the only one practicing social distancing on the touchline – both Bidwell and Latibeaudiere were finding acres of space but too often they were ignored, the player in possession electing for the shorter pass in crowded areas instead.

As the hour mark approached Jokanovic made his first changes, Ben Osborn replacing Oliver Burke and Oli McBurnie coming on for Sharp. McBurnie came on to a warm reception from the Swansea faithful, as much for his gesture paying for the funeral of Mitchell “Little Mitch” Powell and consoling his family in the stands as for his spell knocking in goals for us a couple of years ago.

Mind you, the ‘love-in’ lasted only as long as it took for McBurnie to get himself involved in a couple of tasty tussles with the outstanding Ryan Manning who adapted brilliantly to his new centre half role.

Martin responded with a change of his own, hauling off Jamal Lowe for Joel Piroe, the former’s last contribution of a quiet evening being his best contribution as he worked a chance for himself and finally tested Ramsdale in the United goal.

Sheffield’s subs soon threatened, Osborn feeding McBurnie the lanky Scot’s effort was well blocked close in.

With the home side still looking short up front and now suffering from a slow down in midfield as the likes of Downes and Paterson tired, Martin rolled the dice again by bringing on Morgan Whittaker for the ineffective Cullen. I don’t know what Whittaker has been feeding on over the summer but he suddenly looks like a Wesley Snipes stand in and his introduction brought a bit more directness and trickery to the front line.

However it was the Blades that finished the game stronger, creating a clutch of chances that were quite frankly wasted. McGoldrick and Osborn badly missed the target in quick succession, the former with a free header and Osborn with a right footer that sailed over the bar.

With clock ticking towards the 90 minute mark Yan Dhanda came on for the clearly knackered Paterson as Martin continued to try to win the game – a refreshing change from the previous regime’s ultra cautious approach. 

There was time left for McBurnie to get his name taken and earn some jeers instead of cheers as a naughty challenge saw the ref brandish a yellow card but with the five additional minutes almost up, the Swans couldn’t take advantage of the resulting free kick and an entertaining game came to close without a goal.