Blackpool 0 Sheffield United 0: Boss left fuming as Blades miss chance to go back into play-offs

so far in the opening 10 minutes or so, with neither team getting a hold of the ball and turning it over time and again

as Osborn’s cross is deflected behind - it’s played short but the move breaks down when Gordon can’t keep the ball in play

after the Blades go into their pre-match huddle and both sets of players take the knee

with the Blades in their black away kit and backed by around 2,000 supporters just to the left of the press box here at Bloomfield Road

their pre-match warm ups with some real gusto and I don’t know how much you can really read into these sorts of things but they certainly look up for it - the young lads in the subs ‘rondo’ are all smiles as one of them is nutmegged in the middle and on an absolutely freezing night here in Blackpool, it’ll be even more important than usual that they are put through their paces correctly - the last thing United can afford is more avoidable injuries, after all

who only turned 20 yesterday and is in a Blades squad for the first time

and the Blades make one change, Ndiaye coming in for Hourihane - who is the oldest outfield player on the bench by about 38 years

for the Blades - a big night and big chance for them to make another statement in their play-off push after Boro’s win last night

Sheffield United have commissioned an in-depth investigation of the injuries they have suffered recently after a mounting fitness crisis threatened to derail their hopes of making the play-offs.

United are fifth in the table ahead of Wednesday evening’s trip to Blackpool, but could have as many as 11 senior players missing for the game against Neil Critchley’s men after a remarkable spate of injury issues.

Boss Paul Heckingbottom and his coaching staff have been forced to consider adjusting United’s training schedules in a bid to avoid any further issues, after Ben Davies, John Fleck and Oli McBurnie became the latest additions to their casualty list.

Davies and Fleck missed the Coventry City defeat at the weekend, while McBurnie limped off with a dead leg after being introduced as a substitute himself. He will be given every chance to prove his fitness for the Blackpool clash, but if he misses out the Blades will travel to Bloomfield Road with just one senior and recognised striker in skipper Billy Sharp.

Defenders George Baldock, Jayden Bogle, Chris Basham, Charlie Goode, Jack O’Connell and Enda Stevens are all out, while Davies is a doubt.

Strikers Rhian Brewster and David McGoldrick are out for the remainder of the season.

“I wouldn’t say a crisis, it’s part and parcel of football,” boss Paul Heckingbottom said ahead of the trip to Blackpool.

“But the injured list is bigger than the fit list and it’s a problem.”

With Basham and Goode out, Kyron Gordon is expected to continue at right centre-half while United could be forced to keep left-footed midfielder Ben Osborn at right wing-back in the absences of Bogle and Baldock.