Sheffield United’s weary players will be asked to go again tomorrow evening for their third game in the space of six days. Fellow promotion chasers Sunderland are in town for a mouthwatering clash unsurprisingly picked up by the Sky TV cameras for live broadcast.
But that has sparked concern at both clubs about the fixture congestion at a key time of the season, with the Blades’ already-thin squad stretched further by the absences of Anel Ahmedhodzic (suspension) and Oliver Arblaster (injury). Kieffer Moore is also out while Sunderland boss Régis Le Bris is unlikely to risk left-back Dennis Cirkin after his recent wrist surgery.
Blades boss Chris Wilder shuffled his pack somewhat in midweek against Oxford United with a couple of his youngsters giving him welcome food for thought ahead of a huge clash at the top of the Championship table. We tasked our man with picking the side he’d send out against Le Bris’ men - has he got it just about right or would you do anything differently?
5. Harrison Burrows 7
Back in the side after being rested in midweek and was inches away from finding the opener seconds into the first half when he cut back onto his right foot and had a go, and watched the deflection drop just wide of Patterson's left-hand post with the 'keeper stranded. Made way late on for Norrington-Davies after another tireless display in which he was defensively sound as well as a threat going forward | Getty Images
6. Vini Souza 7
Tested Patterson's handling with a well-struck shot that swerved in front of the Sunderland goalkeeper before he parried it away. He had tried to play inside his own box under pressure from two men earlier in the game and was caught in possession, with Isodor smashing wide to let Souza off the hook. Full of energy and raced half the length of the field in a late break, although the final pass was found wanting on that occasion | Getty Images
7. Sydie Peck 7
Another impressive display from the 20-year-old in the middle of the park, up against a £20m-rated player in Bellingham but Peck was more than a match Photo: Andrew Yates
8. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi 6
Couldn't add to his good recent goal record as he drifted in and out of the game a little with its frantic nature not really helping a player of his style. There was one delicious bit of skill which saw him beat three or four players with a mazy run before being upended, before he made way for Tom Davies Photo: Bradley Collyer