Sheffield United can capitalise on Wrexham weakness by doing something for only a fourth time this season
Five talking points ahead of Sheffield United’s clash with Wrexham at Bramall Lane on Friday night.
Sheffield United will be targeting a return to winning ways when they welcome Wrexham to Bramall Lane in the Championship this evening.
The Blades, who lost both of last season’s meetings with the Welsh club, were forced to settle for a point last time out after drawing 1-1 with ten-man Derby County. Patrick Bamford cancelled out Bobby Clark’s opener before the Blades created a host of chances in the closing stages but failed to convert any of them.
As a result, manager Chris Wilder will be keen for his side to show some ruthlessness in front of goal against a Wrexham side that has experienced an indifferent start to the campaign. The Red Dragons currently sit 17th in the table, five places and two points behind the Blades.
Ahead of the visit of Phil Parkinson’s side, here are five pre-match talking points:
How many changes?
After taking their time to get going against Derby last weekend, it seems likely that Wilder will make changes to his starting line-up this evening. The Blades chief used his bench wisely against the Rams, introducing the likes of Femi Seriki, Sydie Peck and Romelle Donovan during the second half. The trio each played their part in helping United fight back to earn a point.
Supporters had been clamouring to see more of Brentford loanee Donovan, and his cameo against Derby has given Wilder a decision to make ahead of the Wrexham clash. The winger brought pace and creativity to United’s attack, providing the team with an injection of energy.
The same could be said of Seriki, who returned from a knee injury. He finished the contest strongly after being introduced in the 57th minute, and another week of training could see him deemed fit enough to start.
Alongside Seriki and Donovan, Peck may also be handed the opportunity to return to the starting line-up, meaning at least three changes could be on the cards. Peck has started the last two games on the bench, having last featured from the start when United were beaten 3-2 by Portsmouth on October 14.
Get on the front foot
As strongly as United finished last weekend, their 1-1 draw with Derby marked another game in which they had been forced to come from behind. United have conceded the opening goal in seven of their first 12 Championship matches this season, while they have only opened the scoring on three occasions.
In United’s defence, they have picked up eight points from losing positions, including two victories. This highlights the fact that Wilder has a resilient and determined group of players at his disposal. However, it would ease supporters’ nerves to see their team get their noses in front and take the game to the opposition.
United’s home form has been somewhat patchy so far this season, with two wins, two draws and two defeats in their first six matches at Bramall Lane. They have also only opened the scoring once on home soil this term, finding the net shortly before half-time against Lincoln City before going on to win 3-0.
The Blades were very slow out of the traps against Derby, producing a first-half performance that was nowhere near good enough. They will therefore need to make a much brighter start against Wrexham, who have failed to win on any of the seven occasions they have fallen behind this season, highlighting one of their biggest weaknesses.
A big week ahead
Three games in a little over a week present United with an opportunity to head into the November international break on a high. The Championship campaign will reach its second hiatus of the season in just over a week, by which time the league table should be starting to take serious shape.
Ahead of tonight’s game, United currently sit 12th in the standings with 16 points to their name, meaning they are four points adrift of the play-off places and eight points clear of the relegation zone. After facing Wrexham tonight, United will travel to Preston North End on Tuesday evening before rounding off their schedule ahead of the break with a trip to Charlton Athletic next Saturday.
All three of the aforementioned teams are currently below the Blades in the table, meaning Wilder’s side will head into each of their next three matches with an expectation of picking up three points. However, as Derby, who currently sit 23rd, demonstrated last weekend, there is no such thing as an easy game in the Championship.
Nevertheless, if United want to push for the play-offs this season, their next three fixtures present an opportunity, based on the current landscape of the table, for Wilder’s side to put their foot down and establish themselves as genuine top-eight contenders.
Former Blades return
Callum O’Hare will not be the only former Blade returning to Bramall Lane this evening. Alongside the attacking midfielder, who swapped S2 for the Racecourse Ground on transfer deadline day, fellow ex-Blades Ben Whiteman and Kieffer Moore could also feature.
Like O’Hare, Whiteman joined the Red Dragons during the summer transfer window, arriving from Preston North End. The midfielder, who has quickly established himself as a regular starter, left Bramall Lane in January 2018 to join Doncaster Rovers on a permanent deal.
Meanwhile, Moore joined Wrexham from the Blades in August 2025 after spending just one season at Bramall Lane. The striker scored twice against United last season, netting a brace in Wrexham’s 5-3 victory over Wilder’s side on Boxing Day. He has scored five Championship goals so far this season, including three in his last five games.
Bamford’s S2 record
After being forced off against Derby following a blow to his shoulder, Patrick Bamford is expected to be available for the visit of Wrexham. He was withdrawn in the second half last time out after injuring himself while scoring United’s equaliser.
The striker is United’s leading goalscorer so far this season, with six goals in all competitions, while he has scored five times from just seven shots on target in 11 Championship appearances.
All five of Bamford’s league goals this season have come at Bramall Lane, meaning he has scored more Championship home goals (12) than anyone else in the division since making his home debut for the Blades just under a year ago.
He will be hoping to score in a third successive home game this evening after recently finding the net twice against Lincoln and once against Derby.