Sheffield United 2 Bristol City 0: An experienced Championship campaigner, Chris Iwelumo acknowledges the growing importance of the next win for Bristol City.

And the emergency loan signing from Wolves insists he will do everything in his power to instigate a turnaround in fortunes during his time at Ashton Gate.

Unaffected by the confidence-sapping downward spiral which is causing so many of City players to relinquish form and abandon belief, the 31-year-old Scot believes his new team-mates can improve upon a depressing record of two wins in 17 games to avert any further slide into the relegation mire.

Although City have not won a Championship encounter in five attempts since Preston were beaten at Ashton Gate in mid-January, and have slipped to 15th in the table, Iwelumo is prepared to accentuate the positives and offer much-needed reassurance.

Speaking in the aftermath of a debut which failed to go to plan, the Scotland international striker said: "I've been keeping tabs on the Championship and I know what is going on at Bristol City.

"It's always difficult when you haven't won for a while, and I know how important it is to get that next win.

"But I'm sure it will come sooner rather than later. I know a lot of the players here and they are a great bunch of lads with a good spirit. I can tell you, we are all united, all committed to going in the right direction."

Iwelumo knows the Championship inside out, having plied his trade in the second tier with Colchester, Charlton and Wolves, with whom he achieved promotion to the Premier League last season.

And he feels confident his experience can help City's players find a way out of their current predicament.

"I'm here to help and do what I can for the team," added the 6ft 3in targetman.

"I think it helps that I've come from elsewhere and have a fresh perspective on things.

"You cannot just come in and play games, you have to try and contribute on and off the pitch, and I want to try and do that. I want to help the lads get back to firing on all cylinders if I can.

"There are plenty of leaders in the dressing room – it's just a matter of making sure everyone stands up to be counted and sticks together."

If Iwelumo doubted the extent of City's recent decline, his eyes must have been opened wide by events at Bramall Lane.

Sure enough, the visitors began encouragingly enough, their latest new recruit winning numerous aerial challenges as the Blades were forced on to the back foot in the opening 15 minutes.

But City once again lacked the invention and firepower to transform territorial advantage into the hard currency of goals and United gradually established a foothold, after which they wrested control of the game from opponents whose inability to hold the ball up in the final third of the pitch put them at a distinct disadvantage.

That the Robins withstood growing pressure and held out until half-time was thanks to a combination of last-ditch defending and the agility of goalkeeper Dean Gerken, who pulled off notable saves to deny the impressive Mark Yeates and on-loan Arsenal youngster Kyle Bartley.

Forced to concede ground and possession once more, City endured the worst possible start to the second half, conceding a goal after just four minutes.

Abject failure to clear their lines was compounded by the absence of a challenge on Henri Camara, who was permitted to surge into the penalty area and take aim before rifling a venomous shot beyond Gerken's despairing dive and into the roof of the net.

City manager Gary Johnson admitted that goal effectively knocked the stuffing out of players who are in danger of forgetting how to win a game.

"I told them at half-time that they were still in the game and that they needed to work hard, squeeze up and keep things tight at the start of the second period," said Johnson.

"But confidence is very fragile at the moment and letting in an early goal just killed us."

City's players looked in vain for an offside flag, but Johnson refused to look for excuses. He said: "You cannot stand still and wait for a flag which might not come. You have to defend the situation, make a tackle and see the ball out.

"Instead of that, we've allowed the lad oceans of room and he has smashed the ball into the top of the net. It was the last thing we needed at that time."

City's capitulation was complete 12 minutes later, Jamie Ward sending over a teasing cross from the left flank which invited Darius Henderson to strain every sinew to force his way in front of his marker and direct a glancing header beyond Gerken to register his fourth goal in two games against City this season.

And it could have been worse still had Gerken not made startling saves to keep out further efforts from the marauding Camara and Yeates as United turned the screw.

If City's defending under duress causes Johnson sleepless nights, so too will the glaring absence of a cutting edge at the other end of the pitch.

Although the visitors failed to create a clear-cut opportunity in front of goal in the first half, the service to Iwelumo and Patrick Agyemang suggested a rare away win might just be on the cards.

That optimism evaporated once the Blades had broken the deadlock and City's strikers, starved of the ball, were rendered peripheral figures after the interval.

Significant improvement is needed in most departments if promotion-chasing Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion are to be brought down to earth with a bump during a week which could have a significant bearing on the remainder of City's campaign.