[82] With Danny Wilson looking to freshen up his squad United rewarded four of its younger players with contract extensions, with Erik Tønne and David McAllister set to remain with the club until the summer of 2014, and youth team players Jordan Chapell and Jack Adams agreeing new deals until the end of the season. [27], Unfortunately, the latter half of July also saw the club hit the national headlines for the wrong reasons. [119] The next week however their campaign was dealt a crushing blow as star striker and top scorer Ched Evans's case came to trial where he was found guilty of rape and sentenced to five years in prison. .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}  Win [118] With the Blades now in a straight fight with local rivals Sheffield Wednesday for the second automatic promotion spot they came from behind to beat Leyton Orient at Bramall Lane to open up a four-point gap on third placed Wednesday. [37] The team returned to league action and winning ways with an away trip to Yeovil,[38] the first ever competitive meeting between the two clubs, after which they despatched Burton Albion to progress into the second round of the Football League Trophy.[39]. [66] By mid–November, and with Danny Wilson still seeking to add to his attacking options, it was reported that former striker and fans favourite James Beattie had returned to training with the club and could be handed a contract depending on match fitness,[67] and a short term deal was duly signed a few days later. [53] Meanwhile, Danny Wilson boosted his squad ahead of the Steel City derby, with Marcus Williams agreeing to stay on loan for a further two months[54] and Matt Phillips and Billy Clarke arriving for a month each from Blackpool. [125], Richard Cresswell was passed fit for the final against Huddersfield but influential midfielder Kevin McDonald was left out through injury so the Blades were forced to make changes once more. The team kit for the 2011–12 season was produced by Macron for the third successive year.

[71], December started with the second round of the FA Cup and despite conceding another late goal, the Blades progressed into the third round at the expense of Torquay United, thanks to another brace from in Ched Evans,[72] who then scored for the fifth game in succession in the next game, netting twice more in a league victory over Rochdale. [87] Meanwhile, back in the league the Blades then continued their fine run of form, completing their second league double of the week, as they hit three without reply away at Bury,[88] but that form deserted them for a top-of-the-table trip to Charlton Athletic where a bad tempered match resulted in both teams being reduced to ten men and a 1–0 loss for United. [73] The team's impressive form continued with an away win at Bourenmouth thanks to two own goals,[74] Notts County making a similar gift of an own goal to contribute to their own defeat on Boxing Day,[75] before the Blades rounded the year off by crushing Hartlepool United on New Year's Eve;[76] meaning that the Blades ended 2011 in second place in the table following eight victories in a row in all competitions.

[46] Off the field the restructuring of the club continued with the appointment of former Blades player Julian Winter as Chief Executive to replace the departing Trevor Birch.

Although they reached the play-off final, the team were beaten on penalties by Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium, thus failing to achieve promotion and being destined to spend the following season in League One. [78] The New Year started disappointingly as the Blades crashed to their first defeat since the beginning of November as they were beaten 3–2 at Carlisle United. [107] Unfortunately the Blades failed to take advantage of their game in hand, being held to a draw by Colchester United,[108] before once again allowing a lead to slip as they drew with Tranmere Rovers at Bramall Lane. [15], The club announced a low-key series of friendlies for July,[16] while Wilson continued to reshape his squad, allowing young defenders Kingsley James and Phil Roe, both products of the Blades Academy, to leave and rejoin former boss Micky Adams at Port Vale on free transfers. [10], Wilson stressed that he intended to bring a better style of play to the team in the coming season[11] but admitted that players would have to be sold to balance the books. In January 2012 Danny Wilson expressed the need to reform the reserve team structure due to this infrequent number of matches citing that experienced players do not gain much from them and the cost of staging the fixtures as issues. [70] The month ended on a sombre note however as former player and manager Gary Speed was found dead at his home after having taken his own life less than a year after leaving his post at Bramall Lane. [122] United went into the final league fixture with Exeter City requiring to win and hope that rivals Sheffield Wednesday were beaten to secure promotion; a combination that failed to materialise as Wednesday registered a victory and the Blades could only draw meaning they were consigned to the play-offs. Despite chances for both sides the game looked to be heading for another draw until Porter scored an 85th-minute winner to put the Blades through to the final at Wembley.

[28] A fortnight later, striker Ched Evans was arrested and charged with rape following an incident in May. October started no better for the Blades as they were easily beaten 2–0 at home by league leaders Charlton Athletic[52] and needed a last second goal to progress in the Football League Trophy as they struggled against League Two side Rotherham United. [111] Meanwhile, on the pitch, United put their recent poor form behind them as they outclassed Notts County 5–2 at Meadow Lane,[112] before putting four goals past Chesterfield at Bramall Lane, including a hat–trick from in–form striker Ched Evans. [62], Into November and back on the road, yet another late goal was handed Stevenage all three points,[63] leaving United fifth in the table going into FA Cup week. Sheffield United Football Club (known as the Blades) participated in League One, the third level of English football for the first time in 23 years having been relegated from the Championship at the end of the previous season. [49] Despite this setback the Blades quickly returned to winning ways, reversing the previous scoreline to crush Colchester United 3–0 at Bramall Lane. [29], The Blades won the opening game of the season away from home, outclassing Oldham Athletic,[30] but a strong side needed penalties to overcome Hartlepool United at Victoria Park in the first round of the League Cup a few days later. First ever meeting of the two clubs in a competitive fixture.

The home kit consisted of the club's traditional red and white stripes and was based on the kit worn by the team in the early 1970s, chosen following a poll of fans the previous year. [42] The Blades also agreed a deal to take two young midfielders, John Fleck and Kyle Hutton, on loan from Rangers for the remainder of the season,[43] but the deal subsequently fell through due to issues with the paperwork involved. Five additional own goals scored during the season, three in The Football League and two in the FA Cup. [97] Meanwhile, on Valentine's Day, the Blades beat Yorkshire and promotion rivals Huddersfield Town 1–0 at the Galpharm Stadium as defender Neill Collins scored his first ever goal for the club,[98] before coming from behind to beat Preston North End at home a few days later, despite Ched Evans missing a penalty. United began the season well, recording consistently sound results in Football League One and nearing the position required for an immediate return to the Championship. Updated to match(es) played on 5 May 2012.