A goalless draw on the opening day is not automatically a problem, especially in a division as unforgiving as the Championship. But there is a difference between patience and passivity.
For supporters, the frustration is usually less about the scoreline and more about the absence of spark. Early-season rust is normal. So is caution. What matters is whether that caution quickly gives way to conviction.
For Sheffield United, the expectation around Bramall Lane is rarely modest. A home opener brings pressure to impose the game, push the tempo and look like a side with promotion-level intent. If that was missing, even briefly, it will be noticed.
For Birmingham City, the challenge is slightly different. Stability matters, especially away from home, but survival in this league is never built on containment alone. Teams that progress usually add incision quickly, not eventually.
It is far too early to make sweeping judgments, and a stale opening result can be forgotten fast if the next performance carries more purpose. Still, underwhelming starts have a way of lingering when expectation is high. The next round of Championship fixtures already feels important: not for panic, but for proof that Sheffield United and Birmingham City have more to offer than a quiet 0-0.