Sheffield United welcome Newcastle United to Bramall Lane in a Premier League matchweek spread across the next two midweeks.
Victory could move Chris Wilder’s Blades to within nine points of safety, whereas Newcastle could temporarily rise as high as 13th with a win.
Team News
Oli McBurnie is a doubt for Sheffield Utd after missing their 3-2 FA Cup win at Bristol Rovers on Saturday with a knock.
George Baldock and Enda Stevens (both knocks) and Lys Mousset (ankle) are also doubts but Jack Robinson (unspecified), Sander Berge (hamstring) and Jack O’Connell (knee) are ruled out.
Newcastle could welcome Jonjo Shelvey and Callum Wilson back after the duo missed Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Arsenal with muscle injuries.
Ryan Fraser (groin) and Jamaal Lascelles (Coronavirus) could also be in contention to feature but Allan Saint-Maximin (fitness) remains ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Utd have won just two of six previous Premier League meetings against Newcastle United (W2, L4).
- Newcastle have won each of their last three league trips to Bramall Lane (W3).
- Allan Saint-Maximin opened the scoring for Newcastle in both meetings last season, as the Magpies kept clean sheets in both encounters.
- No team this season has made more clearances than Steve Bruce’s Magpies with 391 clearances in 16 league games.
- Sheffield Utd have wasted 95 of their 143 shots with just 48 shots finding the target, of which just eight shots were converted into goals.
Prediction
Sheffield Utd certainly will be coming into this game off the back of a heartening FA Cup win on Saturday, especially after delivering a clinical finishing display despite issues at set pieces which will suit Newcastle given their defensive strengths.
Steve Bruce’s Magpies however will certainly be feeling the effects of playing 120 minutes without reward on Saturday, because they produced a robust performance at Arsenal but wasted too many easy shots which could of won them the game in 90 minutes.
Do that here then Sheffield Utd’s defence will certainly punish them but the hosts must improve their finishing in league games if want to avoid relegation, which makes me think that this could well be a scrappy game so am going for a draw at Bramall Lane.
Prediction: Sheffield Utd 1-1 Newcastle Utd
Result: Sheffield United 1-0 Newcastle United