High-flying Sheffield United will continue their quest for promotion when they host strugglers Oxford United at Bramall Lane on Tuesday in their 17th Championship outing.
The home team are third with 32 points, and their 2-2 draw with Coventry City on Saturday left them level on points from with the team's occupying the league's two automatic promotion spots at the top of the table, while the away side are 18th with 17 points after 16 matchweeks and lost 6-2 against Middlesbrough on November 23.
Match preview
© Imago
The Blades may have mixed emotions about their draw with Coventry, as while they will be pleased that they avoided defeat considering they were reduced to 10 men late in the first half, they will be disappointed that they conceded an 80th-minute equaliser and surrendered their 2-1 lead.
Boss Chris Wilder was satisfied with a share of the spoils, saying: "Definitely a point gained with how the game went. We're 2-1 up, do we go kamikaze and play 4-3-2 and open the game up? We sat in, we have shown that we're prepared to defend by hook or by crook."
Wilder's side have been excellent defensively in the Championship this campaign, with their figure of 10 clean sheets the joint best in the division, while their record of nine goals conceded is only bettered by fourth-placed Burnley.
The club also boast the league's seventh-best offensive record having scored 21 goals this season, and they have netted at least twice in four of their past five matches.
Sheffield United have won four times and drawn on one occasion in their five most recent outings, and have in fact been triumphant in nine of their last 13 games.
The Blades' home record in 2024-25 is outstanding, with the club unbeaten in their eight fixtures at Bramall Lane, emerging victorious seven times while also keeping six clean sheets in their last six home games.
© Imago
Oxford come into Tuesday's clash deflated after losing in humiliating fashion against Middlesbrough, a match in which the U's led 1-0 after 24 minutes but were trailing 3-1 by half time.
Middlesbrough managed to create four big chances and register 12 shots from inside the penalty area, while Oxford only produced one big chance and had six attempts from inside the box.
Head coach Des Buckingham will be concerned that his team have conceded 24 times in the Championship, a tally that makes them the league's joint fifth-worst defensive club.
Buckingham's side are in terrible form having taken three points in just one of their last 11 fixtures, succumbing to defeat in four of their five most recent games.
Oxford have lost five and drawn two of their seven away matches in the second tier, and their record on the road is the second-worst of the 24 teams in the league when factoring in goal difference.
Team News
![Jack Robinson of Sheffield United during the Sky Bet Championship match Preston North End vs Sheffield United at Deepdale, Preston, United Kingdom, August 9, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/jack-robinson.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Jack Robinson of Sheffield United during the Sky Bet Championship match Preston North End vs Sheffield United at Deepdale, Preston, United Kingdom, August 9, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]")
© Imago
Centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic was sent off against Coventry for Sheffield United, and he could be replaced in the starting lineup by Jack Robinson.
Gustavo Hamer was forced off due to an injury last time out and is a doubt for Tuesday's match, so expect Ryan One to play in an advanced position.
Forwards Kieffer Moore and Rhian Brewster are set to miss out, as will midfielder Ollie Arblaster, who is not scheduled to return until late December.
Oxford will be without wing-back Joseph Bennett, while attackers Kyle Edwards and Siriki Dembele have been ruled out of action until early next month.
Hidde ter Avest and Greg Leigh may start either side of centre-backs Sam Long, Elliott Moore and Ciaron Brown.
In the forward line, Buckingham could field Ruben Rodrigues and Tyler Goodrham behind striker Mark Harris.
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Gilchrist, Souttar, Robinson, Burrows; Souza, Peck; Rak-Sakyi, O'Hare, One; Campbell
Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Cumming; Long, Moore, Brown; Ter Avest, Vaulks, Brannagan, Leigh; Rodrigues, Harris, Goodrham
We say: Sheffield United 3-0 Oxford United
Sheffield United have been excellent defensively this term, and it is plausible that they keep another clean sheet against Oxford United.
The visitors have also been poor away from home, and the hosts should be considered strong favourites on Tuesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
