Sheffield United entertain Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Saturday afternoon in the EFL Championship.
The Robins enter this clash having won one, drawn one, and lost one in their last three league games, with their most recent result being a 1-0 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers.
Chris Wilder’s men fought back from a 2-0 deficit with 10 men away at Portsmouth, only to be denied a share of the spoils via a late winning volley from Ebou Adams. The decision to give Hamza Choudhury his marching orders sparked an honest post-match assessment of referees in the English Football League from the Blades boss.
Team News
Michael Skubala doesn’t have any major injuries to contend with.
The Blades will be delighted to welcome Femi Seriki back into the matchday squad for next week’s fixtures. Meanwhile, Jamie Shackleton will be unavailable for the coming weeks.
Bristol City’s Impact Player For This Game
Scott Twine could prove to be the home team’s biggest threat this weekend, having already found the back of the net three times this season.
He has the creativity and technical quality to cause problems for Chris Wilder’s side, particularly if United struggle to contain Bristol City’s attacking players between the lines. The attacking midfielder is averaging 1.4 key passes per game.
The Blades will need to limit the space available to Twine around the edge of the penalty area and avoid giving him time to pick out runners. If Bristol City can establish possession in dangerous areas, the midfielder’s passing and dead-ball delivery could prove decisive.
Technically, Twine is one of the best players in the Championship, especially when it comes to striking the ball from distance and scoring free-kicks. So Michael Cooper could be getting worked from all angles on Saturday afternoon.
Sheffield United’s Impact Player For This Game
Sheffield United winger Tahith Chong in action for the Blades against Lincoln City at Bramall Lane. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).
Tahith Chong is becoming the player he looked at both Birmingham City and Luton Town in particular.
Although his delivery from out wide is still inconsistent, the Blades are clearly seeing a massive difference compared to his performances last campaign. He is now picking the ball up and driving at his full-back, forcing them to commit. While mainly operating out on the right, he cuts inside onto his stronger left foot, though he does mix it up sometimes and go to the byline on his right foot.
The Curaçao international found the back of the net for the first time in red and white against Lincoln City last Saturday, and then he followed that up with an assist at Fratton Park in midweek.
Chong has registered three key passes and put in 14 crosses in the last two games. Look for this volume to continue against a Bristol City side that have kept just one clean sheet in all competitions this season.
My Prediction
With both teams coming into this meeting off the back of a defeat, they’ll be looking to prove a point on Saturday afternoon.
The Blades have had success at Ashton Gate recently, winning three of the last four contests, with three of those games seeing the Robins reduced to ten men. United should take confidence from recent history, as well as the fighting spirit they showed against Portsmouth.
Both teams should find the back of the net in this one, but Sheffield United will claim all three points in a 2-1 win.