Sheffield United have the opportunity to do something for the first time in 12 years vs Fleetwood Town
Five pre-match talking points ahead of Sheffield United’s Carabao Cup third round tussle with Fleetwood Town on Wednesday night.
Sheffield United will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they face Fleetwood Town in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Highbury Stadium this evening.
The Blades, who have won only one of their previous seven meetings with the Cod Army, were harshly beaten late on by Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane on Sunday, losing 1-0 following Raúl Jiménez’s 90th-minute winner.
However, United can temporarily put the bread and butter of the Championship to one side and switch their focus back to the Carabao Cup and a trip to the Fylde Coast. The Blades have beaten Mansfield Town (3-0) and Blackburn Rovers (2-1) so far this season to reach this stage of the competition.
Ahead of Chris Wilder’s side’s clash with the League Two side, here are five pre-match talking points:
What will the starting XI look like?
As Wilder outlined in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, he does not want United to be the victims of a cup upset, meaning he will be approaching tonight’s clash with Fleetwood seriously. However, he will simultaneously have to manage his players’ workloads amid the demanding nature of United’s current schedule.
Considering United will play again on Saturday, travelling to Stoke City for a 12.30pm kick-off, changes are inevitable against Fleetwood.
With tonight’s clash against Matt Lawlor’s team marking United’s second of three games in just seven days, it is only natural that Wilder will have to rotate his squad, potentially opening the door for the likes of Adam Davies, Matt Doherty, Jamal Baptiste, Jaïro Riedewald and recent arrival Jordan Ayew to start.
There could also be a recall to the starting XI for Brentford loanee Romelle Donovan, who scored the winner against Blackburn in the last round, after he was an unused substitute against Wolves at the weekend. Tyrese Campbell will also be hoping to get an opportunity to prove his worth after being left out of the matchday squad on Sunday.
Chasing back-to-back away wins
Although the Blades have lost each of their last two home games, they remain unbeaten on their travels across all competitions this season, winning three and drawing two of their first five away games. In fact, you have to go back to Easter Monday for the last time Wilder’s troops were beaten on their travels, when they lost 1-0 to Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
United secured their first away league win of the season in their last away game, beating Blackburn 2-1 for a second time this season, meaning they will be looking to record back-to-back away wins for the first time this season.
The Blades are playing away from home for the third successive Carabao Cup game after getting the better of Mansfield and Blackburn in the first and second rounds of the competition, respectively. They will therefore be hoping to make it a hat-trick of away wins and secure their place in the fourth round.
Including penalty shootouts, United have not won three away games in a single Carabao Cup campaign since reaching the semi-finals in 2014/15.
Targeting the fourth round
Speaking of the 2014/15 campaign, United’s impressive run to the semi-finals that season marked the last time they progressed as far as the fourth round of this competition.
After beating Mansfield 2-1 at Bramall Lane in the first round, the Blades beat West Ham United on penalties at Upton Park in the second round before reaching the fourth round with a 1-0 win over Leyton Orient away from home in the third round.
United produced a late comeback against MK Dons in the fourth round to keep their Carabao Cup dream alive, recovering from 1-0 down with four minutes remaining to win 2-1, before beating Southampton 1-0 in the quarter-finals.
Their Carabao Cup adventure eventually came to an end against Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals, with the Blades losing 3-2 on aggregate. United lost the first leg 1-0 at White Hart Lane before drawing 2-2 in the return leg at Bramall Lane.
The third round is the furthest point they have reached in the competition since.
Fleetwood’s start
If United are to reach the fourth round for the first time in 12 years, they are going to have to become the first team to beat Fleetwood this season. The Cod Army have enjoyed a really strong start to the campaign, winning four and drawing four of their first eight matches in all competitions.
Currently occupying the final play-off place in League Two, Fleetwood came from behind to draw 1-1 with Newport County at Rodney Parade on Saturday. On home soil, Lawlor’s side are unbeaten in five games so far this season, winning three and drawing two.
Impressively, they have conceded just one goal at home so far this season. Their victories in the opening two rounds of the Carabao Cup saw them beat Chesterfield 1-0 and Shrewsbury Town 4-0, with both wins coming at home.
Cannon chasing another
Having been introduced in the second half of United’s defeat to Wolves, striker Tom Cannon will be eyeing a recall to the starting XI this evening. The striker was on the scoresheet in the last round of the Carabao Cup, netting the Blades’ opener against Blackburn.
After getting on the scoresheet against Rovers in the cup, he followed that effort up with goals against Cardiff City and Blackburn in the Championship, both of which also came on the road, meaning he has scored in each of the Blades’ last three away games.
As he goes in search of a fourth goal in as many away games ahead of tonight’s trip to the seaside, Cannon has the chance to move within two goals of equalling last season’s overall tally of six.