Sheffield United can make a statement in Championship fixture vs Middlesbrough
Sheffield United will be hoping to close the gap on the Championship play-off spots when they host Middlesbrough on Monday evening.
Sheffield United will be going in search of a fifth successive Championship home win when they face title contenders Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane this evening.
The Blades, who were beaten 1-0 by Boro in the reverse meeting at the Riverside back in August, extended their unbeaten run to three games last time out, coming from behind to beat Oxford United 3-1 at Bramall Lane last Tuesday evening.
Following Wrexham’s 2-0 defeat to fellow play-off hopefuls Millwall on Saturday, United, tonight, have the opportunity to reduce the gap to the final play-off place to five points.
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However, to achieve that ambition, they must get the better of a Middlesbrough side that has won each of its last five Championship matches and has the opportunity to leapfrog Coventry City at the Championship summit.
Ahead of tonight’s Bramall Lane showdown, here are five pre-match talking points:
Duo could make their debuts
After joining United on deadline day exactly a week ago, midfielders Kalvin Phillips and Joe Rothwell are in contention to make their debuts this evening.
Phillips arrived on loan from Manchester City for the remainder of the season while Rothwell checked in from Rangers on a permanent deal, bolstering Chris Wilder’s midfield pool even further.
While Sydie Peck is a guaranteed starter in the engine room, there is a strong level of competition to start alongside him. Oliver Arblaster has been making steady progress in recent weeks after more than a year out injured, meaning he could start once again, while Phillips and Rothwell will be eager to force their way into the starting XI and immediately make their mark.
Phillips has earned just seven minutes worth of first-team football this season, suggesting he will need time to get up to speed. Rothwell, though, featured for Rangers as recently as just over three weeks ago.
Regardless of who Wilder chooses to start in the engine room, he knows he is not short of options.
Who leads the attack?
After being described as a “major doubt” by Wilder for this evening’s game, Patrick Bamford is expected to miss out against his former club. The striker sustained a knock to his ankle ahead of the clash with Oxford in training last week.
The 32-year-old has been excellent for the Blades since arriving initially arriving on a short-term deal in November, proving pivotal to United’s upturn in fortunes. As well as being central to their style of play, he has also chipped in with seven goals.
In his anticipated absence, Wilder must decide who will lead the line. Tom Cannon got the nod against Oxford last time out, but some supporters questioned whether he is a striker of the right profile to lead the line on his own.
On the presumption Wilder sticks with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Cannon is likely to be in a straight shoot out with Tyrese Campbell to lead the line. The latter has not started any of the last three matches.
United’s home record
Since suffering a fifth defeat in their first six Championship home games against Derby County on November 1, losing 3-1, the Blades have turned their Bramall Lane fortunes around, winning six of their last eight on home soil, drawing two.
Earning 20 points from the last 24 on offer on home soil, United have turned Bramall Lane back into the fortress it so often was last season. Their 3-1 win over Oxford last week marked a fourth successive league win at home - a run that has also seen them score three goals in each game.
With that in mind, United, this evening, have the opportunity to win five successive home league games while scoring three-plus goals on each occasion for the first time since 1971.
Their home form has established itself as their biggest strength in their quest to push for the play-offs in recent weeks. Having beaten Ipswich Town 3-1 just over a fortnight ago, United will be of the belief they can take down another title contender.
Boro can go top
With Coventry continuing to wobble at the Championship summit, Middlesbrough have the opportunity to go top this evening with a victory.
Currently just one point behind the Sky Blues, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Oxford on Saturday, Kim Hellberg’s side know three points in S2 will take them two clear at the top. They were as many as nine points behind Coventry as recently as January 3.
Boro have been going up through the gears as Coventry have stumbled, winning each of their last five Championship matches. Only Coventry have won six on the spin in the division so far this term.
Although confidence is currently flowing through Boro’s veins, it will be interesting to see how they deal with the pressure now they have the opportunity to climb to the top of the table. Coventry have been at the summit since October 18.
United can show how far they have come
Although United are currently 16th, tonight’s game is expected to be a lot closer than the league table suggests. As already documented, the Blades have been excellent at home recently, showing a ruthlessness to take teams to the cleaners.
Having beaten Ipswich recently, they will be confident of taking down Boro as well. Their home form has been excellent in recent weeks, meaning Hellberg’s side will arrive in S2 mindful of the Blades’ recent record at Bramall Lane.
United were beaten 1-0 by Boro at the Riverside in just their fourth league game of the season back in August, marking a fifth defeat in as many games under former boss Rubén Sellés in all competitions.
Since Sellés was sacked and replaced by Wilder, United have been on the comeback trail, gradually overcoming their disastrous start. The thought of moving within five points of the top six was fanciful not all that long ago.
Tonight’s game offers United an opportunity to send out a real statement.