Many of the players involved in the previous season were either sold or released, while the likes of Nick Blackman, Tony McMahon, Shaun Miller and Dave Kitson were signed to replace them.

They did manage to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup but were comprehensively beaten by Reading, a result which came amidst a rapid downturn in league form during January, that almost saw United almost drop out of the play-off places.

[22] As the training camp continued Chris Morgan announced during a question and answer session with the fans in attendance that he had decided to retire from playing due to a recurrent injury, and that he would now focus solely on his role as reserve-team coach.

[23] The following day United confirmed that Kevin McDonald had signed a new two-year contract,[24] the news coming a couple of hours before the Blades were held to a 0–0 draw by Maltese side Hibernians.

[29] With pre-season coming to an end reserve coach Chris Morgan took a young United XI side to Matlock Town where they recorded a 1–0 victory thanks to a goal from Erik Tønne.

[30] Then, the day before the season opener against Burton Albion, United announced the signing of Blackburn Rovers striker Nick Blackman on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

[36] With the transfer window closing at the end of August, United continued to reshape their squad in an effort to reduce the wage bill, agreeing a new contract with Richard Cresswell for him to become player coach.

[39] Flynn was also a central figure in the following game as both he and fellow midfielder Michael Doyle were shown red cards against Scunthorpe United before the Blades came from behind to grab a 1–1 draw.

[40] Off the field, the following week the club parted company with Chief Executive Julian Winter and Director of Academy Coaching John Pemberton,[41] citing ongoing restructuring.

With the red cards for both Doyle and Flynn being upheld on appeal,[42] Danny Wilson bolstered the squad by bringing forward Paul Gallagher in on a months loan from Leicester City.

[46] Despite the return of Michael Doyle and Ryan Flynn from suspension and a first goal from Dave Kitson, United were forced to settle for yet another 1–1 draw in their last game of September, versus Notts County at Bramall Lane.

[51] The Blades also announced changes to the Football Club board, with chairman Chris Steer stepping down to be replaced by Dave Green, and Nigerian financier Jacob Esan being added as a director.

[57] Back in the league and a trip to Preston North End culminated in a 1–0 win thanks to a Dave Kitson goal,[58] before a Nick Blackman penalty was enough to claim the same result in a home game against Walsall.

[62] Back in League One an away trip to Swindon Town ended in a 0–0 stalemate, but it was a result that allowed United to climb into the automatic promotion places for the first time in the season.

[65] The following week Matthew Harriott was allowed to join Alfreton Town on loan, initially until 9 December,[66] while Harry Maguire made his England Under-21 début as a substitute in the 60th minute, coming on for Liverpool's Andre Wisdom in a 2–0 against Northern Ireland Under-21 at Bloomfield Road.

[74] On 1 December the Blades returned to winning ways with a late 2–1 victory over former United boss Micky Adams's Port Vale side in the second round of the FA Cup at Bramall Lane.

[86] The opening of the January transfer window allowed Danny Wilson to strengthen his squad by signing experienced defender Danny Higginbotham on a free transfer from Stoke City on New Years Day,[75] and both he and Elliott Whitehouse made their United débuts for United that afternoon in the South Yorkshire derby against Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium where the Blades needed late goals from Blackman and Kitson to rescue a 2–2 draw.

[88] On 3 January Danny Wilson continued to revamp the squad by signing winger Jamie Murphy from Motherwell on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee,[87] whilst John Cofie's loan deal was terminated and he returned to his parent club Manchester United, despite claiming that he wanted to see out the season with the Blades.

[89] Young forward Diego De Girolamo was called up to the Italy national under-18 squad[90] ahead of the Blade's third round FA Cup tie at Oxford United.

[96] United's disappointing league form continued as they were beaten 2–0 at home by Yeovil Town,[97] and allowed Notts County to score a late equaliser to draw 1–1 despite being reduced to ten men for much of the game.

[101] With a day of the transfer window remaining Reading agreed a deal to sign Nick Blackman,[102] only six months after he had arrived at Bramall Lane, and after he had rejected a move to Crystal Palace.

[116] March started with a 2–0 victory over Oldham Athletic,[117] before the Blades managed to hold onto second place in the league, despite being held to a second consecutive 0–0 home draw, this time against Milton Keynes Dons.

[125] Due to a lack of first team opportunities Erik Tønne was allowed to return to his native Norway for a trial with HamKam ahead of a potential loan move.

[130] Two days later on-loan forward Dominic Poleon was recalled by his parent club, Leeds United, while Erik Tønne was allowed to join Norwegian side HamKam on loan until November 2013.

[132] United continued their disappointing home form into the following game when Crawley Town were 2–0 victors,[133] a result that saw Danny Wilson sacked the following day,[1] and being replaced by reserve team coach Chris Morgan for the remainder of the season.

[136] Following an injury to one of his Achilles tendons, Richard Cresswell returned early from his loan at York City,[137] the day before a dramatic game home against Brentford saw three players sent off and four penalties awarded as the teams played out a 2–2 draw.