Sheffield United continue their push for Premier League survival against Brighton & Hove Albion at Bramall Lane.
Victory or a draw would lift Chris Wilder’s Blades off the foot of the table, whilst Brighton can go seventh with a win.
Team News
Ivo Grbic is set to return for Sheffield Utd after he missed their last two games due to a concussion.
Ben Brereton Diaz (hamstring), Oli McBurnie (calf) and George Baldock (knock) could return but Rhys Norrington-Davies (hamstring), John Egan (foot), Chris Basham (ankle) and Daniel Jebbison (illness) remain absent.
Brighton could welcome Simon Adingra back into contention following his return from international duty for Ivory Coast, who won the Africa Cup of Nations.
Jack Hinshelwood is ruled out after he missed their defeat at Tottenham with a foot injury,
James Milner (thigh), Joao Pedro (hamstring), Joel Veltman, Solly March and Julio Enciso (all knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Sheffield Utd host Brighton at 2pm GMT on Sunday 18 February at Bramall Lane, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Utd are yet to lose to Brighton in the Premier League (W2, D3).
- Brighton have claimed one point from two previous Premier League trips to Sheffield Utd (D1, L1).
- Three of Sheffield Utd’s last four league meetings against Brighton have ended in a 1-1 draw.
- James McAtee has scored in two of Sheffield Utd’s last three matches.
- Coming into this matchweek, no English player has had more touches on the ball this season than Brighton’s Lewis Dunk, who has made 2,238 touches in 20 appearances.
Prediction
After last weekend’s surprisingly impressive win at Luton where they had fantastic desire and quality in their attacking play, Sheffield Utd now need to bring that performance into this game and an unlikely great escape could be on the cards if can build momentum.
Brighton meanwhile really deserved a draw at Tottenham but if they can bring the fight and find more clinical end product, they really should end their recent away rut in the league but they can’t afford to underestimate the Blades.
Should Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls indeed do that then I fancy them to win but Sheffield Utd have found a strong-willed identity in recent weeks – aside from their last home outing against Villa, so a draw wouldn’t be a surprise.
Prediction: Sheffield United 1-1 Brighton
Result: Sheffield United 0-5 Brighton