Sheffield United host Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane in a crunch Sky Bet Championship clash in race for promotion.
Victory would see United move to within five points of league leaders – Burnley, whilst Middlesbrough will stay third with at least a draw.
Team News
Billy Sharp is a major doubt for Sheffield Utd after he suffered an ankle injury during last weekend’s win at home to Swansea.
Daniel Jebbison returns from suspension and could start alongside Oli McBurnie, who had been utilised as a substitute at the weekend.
Jack O’Connell (knee), Enda Stevens (muscle), Tommy Doyle (calf), Rhys Norrington-Davies, Rhian Brewster (both hamstring) remain ruled out.
Middlesbrough could be without Cameron Archer after he suffered a twisted ankle in their 3-1 win at Cardiff.
Aaron Ramsey (knee) is a doubt but Darnell Fisher (fitness), Anfernee Dijksteel (knee) and Matthew Clarke (back) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Sheffield Utd host Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane on Wednesday 15 February in a 8pm GMT kick-off, live on Sky Sports in UK.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Utd have lost just two of their last six meetings against Middlesbrough (W3, D1, L2).
- Middlesbrough have won one of their last five visits to Bramall Lane (W1, L4).
- Both teams have scored in three of their last four meetings at Bramall Lane, except for Utd’s 1-0 win in February 2019.
- Sander Berge has scored in each of Sheffield Utd’s last two home matches in all competitions (W2).
- Middlesbrough have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six away matches (W4, L2).
Prediction
Having comfortably cruised past Swansea to record their 13th consecutive match without defeat in all competitions, Sheffield Utd can come into this game full of confidence in attack but their high-line defence were lucky not to concede due to brilliant saves from Wes Foderingham.
Boro therefore should look to suck the Blades in by absorbing up their attacking press and hit them on the counter, in a change from the tactics deployed in a clinical win at Cardiff but their defence do look vulnerable to interceptions when playing slowly out from the back.
Both teams however played out a 2-2 draw in August but Boro are in a better place now under Carrick than they were in that meeting, so I do expect this game to be much closer and a draw would be a fair result unless one team just finds that clinical touch.
Prediction: Sheffield United 1-1 Middlesbrough
Result: Sheffield United 1-3 Middlesbrough
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