Two sides struggling for form at the top end of the Championship will do battle on Saturday, as Sheffield United welcome Norwich City to Bramall Lane.
The hosts have dropped from the summit of the division following a five-game winless run, while their visitors make the trip on the back of three straight defeats.
Match preview
© Reuters
Sheffield United enjoyed an eye-catching start to the Championship season, topping England's second tier going into the latest international break with 23 points from 10 outings, having picked up seven victories and gone nine league games unbeaten following an opening-day defeat.
The Blades have been unable to pick up where they left off since, though, with Paul Heckingbottom's side now without a win in five games since their return to action, adding just two points to their tally along the way.
Following a draw at home to Birmingham City, ending their perfect record at Bramall Lane, the South Yorkshire outfit suffered defeats at the hands of Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City, before only snatching a point from a 3-3 draw with nine-man Blackpool thanks to a 97th-minute Oliver Norwood goal.
Hoping to return to winning ways, Heckingbottom's men travelled to take on basement side Coventry City on Wednesday, and, after their efforts to break the deadlock continuously fell just short, they were eventually condemned to a disappointing defeat as Martyn Waghorn netted the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 87th minute.
Having now dropped to fourth spot as a result of their sharp dip in form, the Blades will be desperate to put their slump behind them and score an important victory against another side fighting for promotion on Saturday.
© Reuters
Similarly to their hosts, Norwich City make the trip to Bramall Lane in a disappointing run of form, having sat second behind the hosts after 10 games of the term.
The Canaries strengthened their position in the top two with a victory away at Blackpool at the beginning of October after the international break, and they would go on to draw the following outing against Reading before suffering three straight Championship defeats heading into the weekend.
Dean Smith's side were firstly beaten 3-2 on home turf by Preston North End and would lose 2-1 in their trip to Watford last weekend, despite Joshua Sargent pulling a goal back on the stroke of half time, before vying to return to winning ways at home to Luton Town on Tuesday.
Carlton Morris would put their visitors ahead on the hour mark, and after Kenny McLean was sent off soon after, the Canaries were unable to find a leveller and fell to another defeat, dropping to sixth spot as a result.
Now taking on another side struggling for form, Smith's men will look to bounce back in style on Saturday and climb back towards the automatic promotion places with an away triumph.
Team News
© Reuters
In a season defined by a long injury list, Sheffield United were dealt another blow at Coventry, as left-back Rhys Norrington-Davies was forced off early in the first half, while fellow left-sided defenders Max Lowe and Enda Stevens remain on the sidelines.
That means Ben Osborn will move into that role in a wing-back role from the outset, while John Fleck has returned from his long layoff and will challenge to feature in midfield, with one attacking spot likely up for grabs alongside Oli McBurnie and Iliman Ndiaye in the continued absence of key man Sander Berge.
The likes of Billy Sharp, Rhian Brewster, James McAtee and Reda Khadra will compete for that place, while Adam Davies will again play between the sticks in the absence of Wes Foderingham, who will serve the second game of his three match suspension after being shown a red card after full time in the contest with Blackpool.
Norwich City have an absence of their own due to suspension, as Kenny McLean will miss out following his dismissal against Luton, although Dimitris Giannoulis has returned from an injury to fill in at left-back.
They are not without any injury issues, though, as Andrew Omobamidele, Adam Idah, Jonathan Rowe, Sam McCallum and Jacob Sorensen are all set to remain sidelined.
Summer signing Marcelino Nunez will be pushing to come back into the midfield unit after featuring off the bench on Tuesday, as will Newcastle United loanee Isaac Hayden following his return from an injury, while Teemu Pukki could again lead the line with support from Joshua Sargent, who has netted eight league goals so far this season.
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Davies; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Basham; Baldock, Norwood, Doyle, Osborn; Ndiaye; Sharp, McBurnie
Norwich City possible starting lineup:
Gunn; Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Giannoulis; Nunez, Sara, Gibbs; Sargent, Pukki, Sinani
We say: Sheffield United 1-1 Norwich City
Saturday is certainly an important game for both sides at Bramall Lane as they fight to end tough runs, but the two teams both look far from their best and we do not see either outclassing the other and taking all three points.
As such, we predict a low-scoring draw, extending their respective waits for three-point hauls.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Sam Varley
