All you need to know about Sheffield United versus Brighton

Tomorrow, when Sheffield United face Brighton and Hove Albion at Bramall Lane, Chris Wilder’s side could, depending upon the outcome of Chelsea’s game against Tottenham Hotspur, know that a resounding win would move them into the Champions League places with only 11 matches left to play.
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The Star’s United writer James Shield analyses the facts, figures and form book ahead of this latest meeting between these two Premier League rivals.

The Probable Teams: United - Dean Henderson, Chris Basham, John Egan, Jack O’Connell, Enda Stevens, George Baldock, Oliver Norwood, John Fleck, Sander Berge, Billy Sharp, Oli McBurnie. Brighton - Matthew Ryan, Ezequiel Schlelotto, Shane Duffy, Lewis Dunk, Dan Burn, Davy Propper, Aaron Mooy, Solly March, Leandro Trossard, Pascal Gross, Neal Maupay.

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The Referee: Graham Scott, from Oxfordshire, will be overseeing his first fixture at Bramall since January 2018, when a Sharp penalty saw United beat Preston North End to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup. He booked four players during that match, including John Lundstram, who is hoping to regain his place at the expense of Berge. Scott also took charge of United’s 3-0 win over Hull City at the KCOM Stadium last season; a result which, coupled with a defeat for Leeds later that day, effectively sealed their promotion from the Championship. Earlier this term, the 52-year-old refereed United’s draw with Tottenham Hotspur. That contest was shrouded in controversy when David McGoldrick saw an effort disallowed for offside by VAR because Lundstram’s toe was offside. Scott, who averages 3.15 cautions per game since August, will be assisted by Neil Davies and Derek Eaton, while David Webb is scheduled to be the fourth official. Darren Bond is tasked with reviewing Scott’s decisions at Stockley Park, supported by Simon Beck.

The Key Players: McBurnie is enjoying his best run of form since joining United last summer, with his performance against AFC Bournemouth ahead of the mid-season break being praised by both United’s coaching staff and supporters alike. Although he has gone four games without scoring - the striker’s most recent effort came when West Ham travelled to South Yorkshire last month - Wilder’s decision to recall him to the starting eleven has been justified with a series of tireless displays, most recently alongside Sharp. The 23-year-old was also on target when United travelled to Albion before Christmas. Maupay is the visitors’ leading marksman this term, finding the back of the net seven times in 20 PL starts. The Frenchman was also being tracked by Wilder before electing to join Albion instead during the close season. He has previously represented Brentford, St Etienne, Nice and Stade Brest.

The Managers: Wilder will be managing United for the 182nd time, having been appointed in May 2016. He has won 51.9 per cent of his previous 181 assignments, and drawn 22.6 per cent. Since retiring as a player, Wilder, who enjoyed a brief spell at Albion, has also taken charge of Alfreton, Halifax, Oxford and Northampton Town. Potter was unveiled as Chris Hughton’s successor in May last year, winning 24.1 per cent of his matches at the helm and drawing 31 per cent. He began his managerial career in Sweden with Ostersund, guiding them to three promotions. Wilder has won four in total, including two with United who were in League One when he first arrived.

The Last Time Out: McBurnie’s goal, midway through the first-half, proved enough to settle December’s contest at The AMEX Stadium. The United centre-forward celebrated his recall to the starting eleven by latching onto a long ball by goalkeeper Henderson, holding off a defender, before firing home. United saw two more efforts ruled out by VAR, while McGoldrick hit the side netting after rounding Ryan following the break. Maupay had earlier found the back of the net for Albion, but a team mate had strayed into an offside position during the build-up and that was also chalked-off the scoresheet. The result stretched United’s unbeaten away run in the competition to nine games, with Manchester City later becoming the first team to inflict an away defeat on Wilder’s men since January; when McBurnie was on target for a Swansea side, managed by Potter, against United at the Liberty Stadium.

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The History Book: Despite being founded in 1889 and 1901 respectively, United and Albion have met only 25 times in competitive action, with tomorrow’s hosts winning 13 of those. The visitors’ last victory at Bramall Lane came in January 2005, only the third time they have tasted success there in their history. The other victories came in 1978 and 1986. The most recent draw between these two clubs came in 2004, when Darren Currie scored for the hosts at the Withdean Stadium, where Albion were staging matches at that time. The ground had been renamed ‘Palookaville’ for the day, to celebrate the release of an album by Fatboy Slim, one of their most well-known supporters.

Sheffield United's David McGoldrick (left) and Brighton and Hove Albion's Adam Webster battle for the ball during the Premier League match at the AMEX Stadium, Brighton: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire.Sheffield United's David McGoldrick (left) and Brighton and Hove Albion's Adam Webster battle for the ball during the Premier League match at the AMEX Stadium, Brighton: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire.
Sheffield United's David McGoldrick (left) and Brighton and Hove Albion's Adam Webster battle for the ball during the Premier League match at the AMEX Stadium, Brighton: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire.

And Finally, the Form Book: United have won their last three matches in all competitions, beating Crystal Palace and Bournemouth having knocked Millwall out of the FA Cup. Wilder’s side have scored five goals during that run and conceded only once. The clean sheet they kept against the visitors from Dorset was their ninth in the PL since being promoted from the Championship last season. Albion have recorded five clean sheets in the PL this term, with the last of those coming when Eddie Howe’s men travelled to Sussex in December. Potter’s squad travels north without a win since that fixture.