Sheffield United host promotion-chasing Middlesbrough in a huge Sky Bet Championship clash.
Victory would lift Sheffield Utd back up into 15th position, whilst Middlesbrough can go top with a win.
Team News
Patrick Bamford is ruled out for Sheffield Utd for a second consecutive match, having missed their 3-1 comeback win against Oxford United due to an ankle injury.
Deadline-day signings, Joe Rothwell and Kalvin Phillips could be in contention for their debuts.
Sam McCallum (ankle), Tom Davies, Jairo Riedewald (both hamstring) and Jamie Shackleton (unspecified) remain absent.
Middlesbrough could again be without Leo Castledine after the midfielder was a late absentee in their 1-0 home victory over Norwich, having suffered a knock in their final training session prior to that match.
Deadline-day signing, Joe Wildsmith is likely to replace Jon McLaughlin on the bench as Sol Brynn remains as Kim Hellberg’s first-choice goalkeeper.
Kaly Sene (leg), Alex Bangura, George Edmundson (both unspecified), Alfie Jones (ankle) and Darragh Lenihan (Achilles) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Sheffield Utd host Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane on Monday 9 February at 8:01pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Sheffield Utd have won one of their last five meetings against Middlesbrough (W1, D1, L3).
- Middlesbrough have won one of their last five visits to Sheffield Utd (W1, L4).
- Both of Sheffield Utd’s last two home games against Middlesbrough ended in 3-1 results, of which both teams took a win apiece and both games coincidentally took place in February in 2023 & 25 respectively.
- Sheffield Utd have won their three league matches at home in 2026 by 3-1 results, with Callum O’Hare and Andre Brooks having both scored in two of those three matches.
- Middlesbrough have kept clean sheets in three of their last five league matches (W5).
Prediction
Unbeaten in three matches during which they won two games by 3-1 results, Sheffield Utd and in particularly Andre Brooks definitely are finding form so I don’t expect them to be too worried about this tricky test if they focus on their own game as a win will put them five points off a play-off spot.
Middlesbrough meanwhile have the pressure on them now because this is a chance to move onto the summit ahead of their blockbuster trip to Coventry next week, but they’re coming to Bramall Lane off the back of four wins even though they did have to grind out victory at home to Norwich.
Their recent away record at Sheffield Utd though is pretty poor so the first goal feels like it is set to be crucial to how the game unfolds, especially for the Blades because Boro are unlikely to defensively collapse like Oxford Utd did so a draw might be the fairest call.
Prediction: Sheffield Utd 1-1 Middlesbrough
Result: Sheffield Utd 1-2 Middlesbrough
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