Sheffield United host Blackburn Rovers at Bramall Lane in a huge clash in the Championship promotion race.
Victory will lift Sheffield Utd above Blackburn to the top of the table if Hull and Watford both fail to win elsewhere.
Blackburn meanwhile will remain top of the table with a win and could open a four-point lead if Hull and Watford both lose elsewhere.
Team News
Sheffield Utd have no fresh injury concerns to report from Wednesday’s win over Sunderland but Billy Sharp is ruled out indefinitely with an ankle injury, which forced him to sit out the midweek match.
Chris Basham could return after he was named as an eventual unused substitute in midweek but Adam Davies, Jack O’Connell, Jayden Bogle (all knee), Ben Osborn (ankle) and Enda Stevens (calf) all remain absent.
Blackburn also have no fresh injury concerns to report after suffering a shock defeat at Reading in midweek.
Scott Wharton (calf) and Hayden Carter (hamstring) remain absent.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield United have won four of their last five meetings against Blackburn in all competitions (W4, L1).
- Blackburn have avoided defeat in just one of their last six visits to Bramall Lane in all competitions (D1, L5) – drawing 0-0 in September 2006 in Premier League.
- Sheffield Utd have kept clean sheets in their three wins over Blackburn in the Championship, having lost just one of their four previous meetings – losing 3-1 in November 2021 (W3, L1).
- Anel Ahmedhodzic is the first Sheffield Utd player this season to provide a goal and assist in the same match.
- Three of Blackburn’s six league goals this season have been assisted by Ryan Hedges – more than any other Blackburn player.
Prediction
Sheffield Utd were simply clinical in Wednesday’s win over Sunderland as they took full advantage of the Black Cats being reduced to 10 men after the half-hour mark, whilst managing the game well once 2-0 up despite getting defensively caught too high for their conceded goal.
Blackburn meanwhile need to quickly put their midweek shambolic defensive display at Reading behind them, having delivered a toothless attack lacking quality whilst defending and goalkeeping were just sloppy and deservingly punished.
If Rovers do that then we should have a decent battle on our hands but if not then it surely will be a routine home win, although I am expecting the former and a score draw as a consequence if both teams are at their best in attack.
Prediction: Sheffield United 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
Result: Sheffield United 3-0 Blackburn Rovers