Third blow in three games for Sheffield United as key man misses Blackburn Rovers clash after Stoke City moment
Sheffield United hit with third suspension blow as key man ruled out of Blackburn Rovers clash
Sheffield United have been hit with a third suspension blow in the space of three matches after another key man was ruled out of next weekend’s trip to Blackburn Rovers. The Blades have been hit hard by the one-match ban rule for collecting five yellow cards this month, losing Vini Souza for Wednesday night’s defeat at Middlesbrough and then Gus Hamer for this afternoon’s home clash with Stoke City.
The only remaining player on four yellows was defender Anel Ahmedhodzic, who duly picked up his fifth of the season in the first half against Stoke for an innocuous pull-back on Million Manhoef. It was the Bosnian’s first foul of the afternoon but that didn’t earn him any grace from referee Ben Toner, with Ahmedhodzic missing Saturday’s trip to Ewood Park as a result.
That will open up the door for either Jack Robinson or Rhys Norrington-Davies to come back into the side, Robinson having not featured since earlier in the season and Norrington-Davies missing from the squad against his former side after coming off the bench at Middlesbrough in the week.
The player next at risk of a one-game ban is skipper Ollie Arblaster and United will hope to have used up all their bad luck on that front, especially with the Steel City derby looming large against Wednesday at Bramall Lane. Arblaster went into the Stoke clash with three bookings to his name this season, with Harry Souttar, Andre Brooks and Sydie Peck all on two.