Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom has thrown his backing behind Anel Ahmedhodzic.

The defender had a very tough game last time around in the Premier League against Newcastle United.

Ahmedhodzic and his teammates were humbled 8-0 at home by the Magpies on Sunday.

“Anel wasn't at his best at the weekend but prior to that he's been very good this season," said Heckingbottom to reporters ahead of a trip to West Ham United this weekend.

“We've been really pleased with him. I won't let you guys start talking about the season and defining it in one game. He's been good, to this point."

“Everyone dipped in that game," he added.

“No-one will have come away happy with their performance. You're not going to get a defeat like that in any type of good manner. Whenever anyone suffers a heavy defeat, there's no way you can say it's acceptable. If you've lost 8-0 there's always going to be things that shouldn't happen on a football pitch. That's it.

“We have to be clear on what they are, and we have been, but that's no different an approach to what we did against Spurs or Man City. There are always things we want to do better in games, I don't think you'd ever be able to say that losing in that way, regardless of who you're playing or how well they play, we can't afford for those things to happen again."