Sheffield United continue their fight for Premier League survival as they welcome Southampton to Bramall Lane.
Victory would lift Sheffield Utd off the foot of the table on goal difference for at least 21 hours, whereas Southampton will stay 14th with a win.
Team News
Phil Jagielka is suspended for Sheffield Utd after being sent off in Wednesday’s win over Aston Villa.
Chris Basham (muscle), Jayden Bogle (shin), John Egan (ankle), Sander Berge (hamstring), Jack Robinson, Jack Rodwell (both unspecified) and Jack O’Connell (knee) are all ruled out.
Southampton could welcome Takumi Minamino, Kyle Walker-Peters (both hamstring) and Ibrahima Diallo (muscle) back into contention after the trio resumed training this week.
Moussa Djenepo (knock) is a doubt and could join Oriol Romeu (ankle), Will Smallbone (knee), Michael Obafemi (unspecified) and Theo Walcott (tendon) on the sidelines.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Utd have won just one of their seven previous Premier League meetings against Southampton (W1, D2, L4).
- Southampton have claimed four points from their three previous Premier League trips to Bramall Lane (W1, D1, L1).
- Saints’ Che Adams has scored three goals in his last two appearances against Chris Wilder’s Blades, although all three goals came at home rather than away at Bramall Lane.
- Two of Sheffield Utd’s last five home goals have come from David McGoldrick.
- Southampton haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last five away league matches, conceding 18 goals and scoring twice.
Prediction
Sheffield Utd’s recent improved home form definitely paid off with a clinical midweek win against a toothless Villa to move to within 12 points of safety, but they really need victory here to kick start a late survival charge otherwise inconsistent form will cost them another season in the top flight.
Southampton meanwhile did well defensively to not avoid an embarrassing defeat at Everton on Monday, especially because they were just lacklustre up front until the closing moment but Minamino and Walker-Peters’ returns should hopefully inject more energy back into this freefalling team.
All pressure however will be on the hosts because they really need a win to launch a great escape but have often lacked sharpness up front, yet Southampton just lack any confidence on the road at present so I don’t expect a classic here but a repeat performance from the Blades would do them nicely.
Prediction: Sheffield United 1-0 Southampton
Result: Sheffield United 0-2 Southampton