Bristol Live picks out the stand-out talking points after Bristol City stretched their winless run with a home defeat to Sheffield United

It felt like a moment that could come back to bite. The Ashton Gate clock had only just ticked over into the fourth minute; Bristol City were in need of a pick-me-up, and Yu Hirakawa had space to break into the Sheffield United penalty area.

The Japanese winger had done well to pounce on the mistake. His first touch set him through, and he had perhaps more time than he would have liked to set himself, watch Michael Cooper and pick his spot. From the press box, it felt as though most of those in attendance held their breath.

Hirakawa waited and waited for the Blades stopper to make his move, but he didn't. When the shot was taken, it was hit straight at him and with nowhere near enough force. Cooper saved, and before the game had even hit its stride, City's moment had been and gone.

The potential importance of such a passage hadn't yet been recognised when the match's other defining incident occurred. That aforementioned clock hit the fifth minute, and Ollie Arblaster powered the visitors into the lead with a volley from the edge of the area.

That moment, a goal that threatened to be the catalyst for a good game of football, proved to be its only defining action. Not for the first time this season, the Reds were unable to find a response as they struggled through the remainder of the first half before producing a marginally improved second-half showing.

Still, as the final whistle was blown, the players made their way around a frustrated BS3, knowing full well that the best chance they'd produced had come more than an hour and a half prior. This had been a bad day, and those who remained in their seats made it known that was the case.

Boos were audible. Whether they were directed at the players, the manager or even the officials - who had made few friends in the West Country - only those who produced them will know. What was clear, though, was that very few in City colours were heading home happy.

I'm confident in predicting that many of you would like to banish this game to far the reaches of your memory and not think of it again. Before I allow you to do so, here are the stand-out talking points from the Robins' 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United...

Same result, different disappointment for Bristol City

"It's a completely different feel to Tuesday." Those were among the first words used by Michael Skubala after he had taken his seat in the Ashton Gate press room on Saturday afternoon.

The Bristol City manager was, of course, referencing the Robins' defeat to Blackburn Rovers, a result he branded frustrating after his side had created "lots of chances" and managed "lots of box entries." So many, in fact, that - in his eyes - City "shouldn't be coming away losing that game."

The defeat to the Blades didn't leave that same taste, however. "Today, I thought we started too slowly," Skubala explained. "Lost too many duels, weren't aggressive enough, they got on top of us, and our clearances weren't big enough in a typical Championship game.

"We didn't do well enough, so a different disappointment, if you like, compared to Tuesday."

With total honesty, the Reds boss had summed up the emotions felt by the majority of the 20-odd-thousand fans who had watched the hour and a half of football prior, 90 minutes where things felt far from perfect.

The 20 shots taken against Rovers became seven against the Blades, with only one of those attempts - Yu Hirakawa's early on - hitting the target. Rather than the 29 touches registered inside the Blackburn box, City managed 19 this time around. Having collated an xG of 2.07 on Tuesday, that figure stood at just 0.5 on Saturday.

As those statistics show, against Rovers, City found a way to lose a game they should've won. When they hosted United, however, they got what they deserved; a fact that perhaps produced the most disgruntled response to a final whistle I've witnessed at Ashton Gate this term.

Undoubtedly, there is a feeling amongst the Reds faithful at this moment in time that, particularly at home, what they're seeing isn't good enough, a feeling expressed through the boos audible at full-time. That isn't a school of thought exclusive to those watching the stands or at home, but one echoed within the dugout and the changing rooms. As Skubala told Bristol Live in the early hours of Saturday evening, "I have no problem with the fans being disappointed, as the players are, as I am."

Ultimately, one word - or a variation of it - has cropped up repeatedly throughout this section: "disappointment." Saturday's loss to the Blades was a disappointing way to end a disappointing week after the extended international break and has led to the clearest voicing of such disappointment so far in this new era, from staff, players and fans alike.

That is a feeling bred from a little more than just the events of the loss to Chris Wilder's side, though.

A week where Bristol City have turned the spotlight on themselves

Cast your mind back eight days or so ago. Having lifted spirits prior to the international break through their home win over Watford, Bristol City travelled to The Valley in the knowledge that a busy three-game week lay ahead of them.

With the foresight that nine points would be up for grabs, starting with a draw against Charlton Athletic seemed a good result; after all, The Valley is a tough place to go as an away side, and Nathan Jones' teams don't tend to be very easy to beat at home. There was, though, a simple way for the Reds to make a solid point a great point.

"I think if you can get some points, three points, on Tuesday, it's an excellent point," Michael Skubala told the press last Saturday.

Of course, as we've referenced, the Robins didn't get three points against Blackburn on Tuesday. Not only was that cause for irritation itself, but such a feeling only exacerbated the feeling that maybe a draw away to Charlton wasn't quite as positive as it had felt days prior.

Similarly, the way in which the defeat to Rovers will be viewed in the long run was always likely to be dictated by what happened against Sheffield United. Beat the Blades and fans were much more likely to remember a good performance than the disappointing result. Lose to Chris Wilder's side and, well, you only have to check social media to get a feel for what the City supporters are feeling.

Each result this three-game week has thrown up has made the outcome that came before it look worse. In isolation, a bad day at the office against United, a perhaps unjust result against Blackburn and a battling point at The Valley are understandable; throw them together and leave City with one point from a possible nine at the end of it, eyebrows will be raised, and fingers pointed.

Within that, there is probably an important lesson for the Reds players and staff alike, a lesson that was taught by the Blades but applies to contests like the one against Blackburn.

"That's probably why you have to win those games on Tuesday," Skubala simply stated when reflecting on the loss to United. "We're not taking the chances at the right moments in our game, and we're being punished."

At this stage, the Robins aren't quite good enough - and have a tendency to have a bad day - so they cannot afford to pass up opportunities. By losing to Blackburn, they have knocked over a domino on either side of the fixture schedule and made two results that would perhaps otherwise be looked over come under the spotlight.

Bristol City's 'biggest challenge' remains, but was forecast

Put it in any way you like, three goals scored across seven home games this term isn't good enough for Bristol City. You know that, I know that, the players know that and, crucially, so does Michael Skubala.

The Robins boss labelled putting the ball in the back of the net his side's "biggest challenge" on Saturday afternoon, a tag he utilised when referencing Yu Hirakawa's wasted early chance. Quickly he added, "We're not taking the chances at the right moments in our game, and we're being punished."

As referenced above, the Reds' issue on Saturday wasn't taking their opportunities, but instead creating them. Statistically, Hirakawa's shot was the only big opportunity Skubala's side had in the contest. Why was that, when they had the best part of 85 minutes to search for a leveller?

"I thought second-half we got to the final third, and then we didn't threaten enough with our final action or with our final pass," the City boss replied when that question was posed. "We were coming back too often, not playing forward enough, not running behind often enough, not sliding enough.

"It looked like we might create a moment, maybe, on our set-pieces, but I thought in open play we weren't brave enough to make that final action. I think in these games, at home, we need to be braver with the ball; we need to be braver to run beyond their backline and create more chances."

Was that lack of bravery the result of a lack of confidence? "When it's all going well, it's easy to be confident," he added. "When you get a few punches on the nose and things are happening, that's where we have to really step up as a group in these moments to dig ourselves out of it; which we'll do.

"All we can do is work on the training pitch."

Perhaps therein lies the bit of perspective we should all consider when assessing this squad, manager and their results. They are new to this division, still adapting and don't necessarily have the confidence of a Patrick Bamford or Kalvin Phillips - a confidence built from the knowledge you can be successful in the division.

The Robins are a new-look side packed with new relationships and some players whose second-tier careers are just 11 games old. They're not, therefore, the finished article and are, as a result, going to have good days, bad days and days in between.

As Skubala said on Tuesday, "There are still young players learning, we're still gelling, and it's still early into the season." Does that mean afternoons like Saturday's and records like the Robins' goalscoring at home should be ignored? No, but it is worth keeping in mind when you consider calling for the long-term project to be torn up because of a week of poor results.

Good time for Bristol City to have a break before Stoke City

After a busy first week back on duty, Bristol City now have a week to gather their thoughts, rest, recover and - perhaps most importantly - work, before they return to Championship action next weekend, with a trip to Stoke City.

Often, after a defeat, players, fans and staff are desperate for an immediate opportunity to put things right: a viewpoint Cam Pring presented when he met the media in the wake of the Robins' defeat to Blackburn Rovers and ahead of the visit of Sheffield United.

I'm sure if you were to ask Dom Ballard, Sam Tickle and Jason Knight, they would love to play another game today to try and right the wrongs of Saturday afternoon. In the eyes of their manager, however, it is a positive that the next opportunity to get back to winning ways is six days away, not two.

"It's always a good time to have a clear mid-week," Michael Skubala explained. "We can get back on the grass with the players.

"It's really good if you win three games, but when you lose games or don't pick up enough points in a three-game week, it's really difficult because all you're doing is match-prepping, going again for the next game and trying to get things tactically changed, because of all the different styles.

"When you can get some time on the grass with the lads, it's really important."

Against the Potters, things are unlikely to get any easier. Mark Robins' side currently sit sixth in the Championship, having claimed 19 points from their opening 11 matches - a tally that has them within the play-off places by two points and just four adrift of early table-toppers Swansea City.

Stoke have lost just one of their last eight games in all competitions. That sole defeat came against Middlesbrough in midweek, where a late Neto Borges strike was the difference, but in that run, they've beaten Norwich, Charlton, Watford, Sheffield United, Bolton and Derby County.

Hopefully, the Reds will reap the predicted benefits of a week on the grass at the bet365 Stadium.