Sheffield United welcome Blackburn Rovers to Bramall Lane in the Quarter-Finals of 2022-23 FA Cup.
Victory will see Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2013-14 season, whilst Blackburn are chasing a first appearance beyond this stage in 16 years.
Team News
James McAtee is available for Sheffield Utd after he was substituted in their midweek league win at Sunderland due to cramp.
Daniel Jebbison (knock) and Enda Stevens (muscle) are doubts but Jack O’Connell (fitness), Rhys Norrington-Davies, Ben Osborn and Rhian Brewster (all hamstring) remain ruled out.
Blackburn have no fresh injury concerns to report but Sorba Thomas is ineligible due to being cup-tied, having featured for Huddersfield earlier in this season’s competition.
Thomas Kaminski, John Buckley, Sam Barnes (all knee), Daniel Ayala, Bradley Dack (both hamstring), Jake Batty (ankle) and Scott Wharton (calf) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Sheffield Utd host Blackburn at Bramall Lane in a 12pm GMT kick-off on Sunday 19 March, live on ITV1 in UK.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Utd are unbeaten in two of three previous FA Cup ties against Blackburn (W1, D2, L1), although their recent FA Cup tie in March 1993 finished in 0-0 draw and 2-2 in replay – with the Blades winning on penalties.
- Blackburn are winless in two FA Cup visits to Sheffield United (D1, L1).
- Sheffield Utd have scored twice in each of their two previous FA Cup ties at home to Blackburn.
- Each of Utd’s nine goals in this season’s FA Cup have been scored by different players.
- Blackburn have won two of their three previous away ties in this season’s FA Cup by 1-0 result, which came against Norwich and Birmingham in Third and Fourth Rounds respectively.
Prediction
Having lost to Blackburn at Ewood Park via an early conceded goal a fortnight ago, Sheffield Utd will be glad to be at home in this game especially after coming from behind to beat Sunderland in a scrappy midweek contest with excellent attacking play and goalkeeping.
Blackburn meanwhile are currently on a roll form-wise but did lose their last away game at Stoke yet rebounded with a clinical win over Reading in midweek, so I imagine their priority will be not to concede first but can take heart from their win over the Blades via a cracking counter-attack.
Both teams though are battling for promotion to the Premier League which means that victory here would guarantee a hectic run-in, meaning that there are tough decisions for both managers in terms of competition priorities.
Sheffield Utd also reportedly have financial issues meaning that extending their FA Cup run will be a huge help, yet the big money lies in promotion so I do expect them to gamble on both which could well motivate their players to fight for the club’s future with a win here.
I however do expect this game to be tight and whoever scores first could well snatch the winner.
Prediction: Sheffield United 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
Result: Sheffield United 3-2 Blackburn Rovers
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