Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship clash between Sheffield United and Cardiff City at Bramall Lane. The Bluebirds are seeking a club-record ninth successive win this evening, having put together an incredible run of form since the turn of the year, while the hosts still have a real chance of finishing inside the top six.

SHEFFIELD UNITED TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Moore; O'Connell, Stearman, Basham; Baldock, Lundstram, Evans, Fleck, Stevens; Brooks, Clarke

SUBS: Eastwood, Sharp, Donaldson, Wright, Leonard, Lafferty, Holmes

Starting with a look at the home team, manager Chris Wilder has made three changes on the back of the 1-1 draw at Brentford last time out. One of those is enforced, as goalkeeper Jamal Blackman picked up a red card at Griffin Park that will rule him out for a few matches, so Simon Moore - formerly on Cardiff's books - is given a chance to impress between the sticks following a spell out of the side.

Elsewhere, two full Wales internationals return to the side as Lee Evans and David Brooks are selected over Ryan Leonard and Billy Sharp, who drops down to the bench this evening. There is no place for another Welshman in Ched Evans, who striker boasts an impressive past record against tonight's opponents - three goals and an assist in his last four meetings with the Bluebirds.

CARDIFF CITY TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Etheridge; Mangala, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson, Grujic; Patterson, Hoilett, Mendez-Laing; Zohore

SUBS: Murphy, Peltier, Pilkington, Bryson, Ward, Wildschut, Madine

Just the one change as far as Cardiff are concerned, although it is quite a big one as Aron Gunnarsson comes in for his first start since November. The Bluebirds' Player of the Year last time out has barely featured this term after undergoing surgery on his foot, but after getting minutes under his belt for Iceland, on top of a cameo appearance against Burton Albion on Friday, he comes in for Craig Bryson.

Other than that, Cardiff remain as they were against Burton just a few days ago. Joe Ralls is carrying a hamstring injury that will reportedly sideline him for the remainder of the season - the Bluebirds have yet to confirm that - and Jazz Richards is out with an ankle injury. The Welsh outfit have had a number of injury problems to contend with this term, but the return of Gunnarsson in central midfield means that this is close enough to being their strongest XI.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Sheffield United have failed to win any of their last five home matches against Cardiff City, losing two and drawing three of those since December 2004 when Neil Warnock was in charge of the Blades. This is, however, the first meeting between the two sides at Bramall Lane since April 2011.

Six other matches have already taken place in the Championship today, with the sixth - Nottingham Forest at home to Barnsley - falling foul to the bad weather. There has been no changes as far as the top four is concerned, but Sheffield United now head into this game knowing that victory will left them into the playoff zone. The Blades may currently be ninth, though Middlesbrough in sixth are only two points better off.

Preston North End saw their promotion hopes take a real dent earlier today, while Bristol City lost and both Millwall and Boro dropped points. A good day so far for the Blades, then, and a real incentive now to pick up all three points here. Wilder's men have been very inconsistent since the end of November, however, winning just six of 22 league matches since then - certainly not playoff form.

Thankfully for the hosts, their incredible start to the season - using all the momentum from last term's League One title success - has ensured that they have never really dropped out of the playoff picture. Six points from the last 12 is a pretty mixed return, though it has proved enough to keep them ticking over and they could well end the day in that sixth and final playoff spot.

United must also face Boro, Millwall and Bristol City before the season ends, so expect the playoff race to go right down to the wire. It is looking like being a less dramatic conclusion in the top two as things are shaping up, meanwhile, with Cardiff currently seven points better off that Fulham directly below them. Win tonight and that 10-point advantage will surely be insurmountable.

Cardiff head into this match on the back of eight successive league wins and they look good value to join Wolverhampton Wanderers - who they face on Friday night - in the Premier League next season. Fulham fans, and indeed optimistic Aston Villa fans, are still holding onto hope as City must also face the Villans in what is a tough week. Warnock's men have passed every other test thrown at them over the past three months, however, and have showed no sign of slowing down.

The Bluebirds' four match losing run over the Christmas and New Year period is now very much a distant memory, and a few more wins could well be enough to get them over the line. Thirty-two points from the last 36 on offer is an incredible return no matter what way you look at it; Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday being the only teams to deny Cardiff victory since the opening week of the year.

DID YOU KNOW? Sheffield United have won six of their last eight home matches on a Monday in all competitions, drawing the other two, with their last defeat on the first day of the week coming in November 2009 against Newcastle United. Meanwhile, Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock is managing a game at Bramall Lane for the first time since August 2010 when winning here 3-0 with Queens Park Rangers.

© Offside

KICKOFF! Cardiff City get us up and running at Bramall Lane, aiming to extend their winning run to nine matches. Sheffield United, meanwhile, require victory to climb back into the top six of the Championship table.

Positive play from Zohore inside the opening stages, driving at the United defence but losing his footing in the box. An incredibly wet playing surface - the staff here did well to get the game on - so expect a few long-range shots early on.

CHANCE! The first chance of the match falls to John Lundstram, who can only direct his header down the middle for Etheridge to comfortably collect. Enda Stevens did well to pick out his teammate and the midfielder should have done better.

A pretty scrappy start to the match, as many predicted. United with the only real sight of goal so far, which Lundstram failed to make the most of after being spotted by Stevens in the middle. Cardiff will surely grow into this one.

SHOT! United hit their opponents on the break and if not for a last-ditch interception they would have been in. Some nice play then saw Evans work some space for a long-range shot, which ended high over Etheridge's crossbar.

Wilder will be the happier of the two managers so far, as his side have had the better of things. Second-placed Cardiff not really got going at all so far, and they are being pushed back a little deeper than Warnock would have liked.

Hoilett with a chance to cross the ball from the right-hand side, but it is easily collected by former Cardiff man Simon Moore. The Bluebirds just starting to settle a little more after a fairly shaky start to things in South Yorkshire.

Grujic volleys the ball off target and an offside Zohore got a touch to it to help it goalwards. A good stop from Moore down low, as he did not know the striker was in an offside position. Cardiff growing more and more into this one.

SAVE! City striker Kenneth Zohore gets a shot away on goal with his left boot, but Moore did well to keep it out. Still, Cardiff beginning to assert their authority now with a couple of attempts in the last few minutes.

Players continuing to lose their footing on this incredibly wet pitch. Paterson goes sliding through the mud and emerges with more brown on his top than blue. Fingers crossed the heavy rain does not return or else the ref may have a call to make.

Nearly a quarter of the match played and there has not been a great deal between the sides thus far. Both teams with an attempt each on target, which Etheridge and Moore were equal to. United edging the possession count ever so slightly.

Mendez-Laing with a good challenge to win the ball back for his side, which the home fans were unhappy with - not sure why. City just looking to build up some momentum now; something they have so far been unable to achieve in the opening 23 minutes.

Cardiff win themselves a corner and Hoilett sends a good delivery towards the back post, where Morrison is waiting to head it. The centre-back could not direct it back towards the target, though, and United were able to clear their lines.

Morrison with a belter of a shot that hits an opposition player before it can reach the opposition target. The game being played exclusively in the United half so far, with Cardiff now starting to turn the screw a little.

Clarke's 11-game wait for a goal comes to an end, as he sends a shot past Etheridge with the aid of a big deflection. The Cardiff keeper watched the ball trickle over the line, with the touch from Manga putting enough spin on the ball to help it past him.

YELLOW CARD! Joe Bennett is cautioned for a nasty challenge. That United goal came at a time when Cardiff were beginning to turn the screw a little, so the visitors just needs to regain their composure now and go again.

A corner is not dealt with by Etheridge, who was grateful to see one of his own players get to the loose ball first. Cardiff looking a little shaky once again after conceding that goal, and United are now looking to take advantage.

O'Connell does well to stop Grujic from getting a cross into the middle on the counter. Instead, the Serbian midfielder is sent flying into the snow behind the goal, but he quickly gets up - that could have been a lot worse.

Baldock lunges in on Gunnarsson but the Iceland international, back in the starting lineup after more than four months out, is able to get back to his feet. The Blades looking the more likely to score the game's second goal at the moment.

SHOT! United playing some nice football, zipping the ball around well despite the bad conditions. Warnock may well just want to get his players in for half time now, as Clarke's deflected shot this time ends right in the hands of Etheridge.

It has been a very disappointing first half from Cardiff's perspective - they will be grateful to go into the interval just a goal behind. The Bluebirds' best spell came in the build-up to United's breakthrough goal, given to them by Leon Clarke.

OFF THE LINE! United have got in behind a few times since going ahead without getting a clean shot on target. Bamba produces another block at the front post to concede a corner, from which Stearman's header is cleared off the line by Bennett.

A replay of that Richard Stearman chance - a free header at the back post - shows that the ball was actually going to hit the post. Still, Bennett was taking no chances and was well positioned to nod it away. Half time now moments away.

CLOSE! The hosts may rue their failure to double their tally in a pretty dominant first-half showing. Lundstram meets the ball on the edge of the box but rather scuffs it wide of Etheridge's goal, with the keeper scrambling across.

Sheffield United take a slender lead into the break thanks to Leon Clarke's deflected strike. There had been very little to separate the side up until that point, but Cardiff City - second in the table, remember - have been very much second best ever since.

John Lundstram failed to make the most of a chance inside the opening five minutes, heading the ball straight at Neil Etheridge after being picked out in the centre by Enda Stevens. Another United attempt, this time from returning Wales international Lee Evans, ended high over the bar soon after as the Blades enjoyed the better of the early exchanges.

Cardiff failed to get going at all in the first half, in fact, with their only shot of note coming via Kenneth Zohore, who could not ask any serious questions of stand-in keeper Simon Moore. United bagged the breakthrough goal just short of the half-hour mark through Leon Clarke, as he ended his 10-match goal drought with a weak attempt that deflected off Bruno Manga and trickled over the line.

Etheridge had better luck later in the half, with Clarke's next effort deflecting off Sean Morrison and into his hands, but the hosts should have doubled their tally before the break. Richard Stearman's free header was headed off the line by Joe Bennett - though it may well have been hitting the post - and Lundstram scuffed a shot from the edge of the box wide soon after.

BENCH WATCH!

SHEFFIELD UNITED SUBS: Eastwood, Sharp, Donaldson, Wright, Leonard, Lafferty, Holmes

CARDIFF CITY SUBS: Murphy, Peltier, Pilkington, Bryson, Ward, Wildschut, Madine

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RESTART! We are back up and running at Bramall Lane, where Neil Warnock has indeed turned to his bench. January recruit Gary Madine, who cost a reported £6m to sign from Bolton Wanderers, replaces Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

You have to feel that Warnock would take a point now if offered to him, having seen his side outplayed at times in the first half. It would keep Cardiff ticking along nicely, though they do have games against Wolves and Villa to come over the next eight days.

Clarke goes to ground in the box but it was through losing his footing rather than contact from Manga. United still the side in control of this match in terms of the last couple of minutes, so Warnock may well turn to his bench again.

Bennett gives away a free kick in a good shooting position for United. The full-back barged into the back of Baldock and may well be on his last warning before being shown a second yellow card. Cardiff badly struggling to get a foothold in the match.

SAVE! Brooks wanted too much time on the ball when played through on goal by Fleck. The young Wales international got the ball stuck under his feet and Etheridge raced out to clear the ball before the shot arrived.

CHANCE! Great play from Gunnarsson to get away from his man and drive a low cross towards Madine, who could not quite get a toe to the ball five yards out. From the next attack, Zohore belts the ball on target and Moore lifts it over the bar.

SHOT! Cardiff have just enjoyed their best two-minute spell of the match, but they could easily have found themselves two goals behind. Another United counter ends with Evans being spotted on the edge of the box, only for his shot to fly over the bar.

An hour played in South Yorkshire and the last five minutes have been a lot more evenly matched. Cardiff looking the more dangerous, though the home side are being given plenty of chances to hit their opponents on the counter.

A reminder that as things stand, with 28 minutes left to play, Sheffield United will end the day sitting in the Championship's top six. Wales international Brooks has just got a shot away, which Morrison managed to block aside.

Cardiff had a bright spell a little earlier in the half, but they are way off the levels we have become accustomed to seeing from them. Nearly halfway through the second half now and United have not truly been troubled at the back.

Moore does very well to prevent the ball from going behind for a corner kick. Warnock is surely tempted to roll the dice for a second time shortly because his team do not really look like scoring an equaliser at the moment.

SHEFFIELD UNITED SUB! Richard Stearman has tweaked his hamstring so United boss Chris Wilder is forced into a first change, bringing on Jake Wright in his place. Clarke controls the ball and spots Fleck, but Etheridge was there to keep it out.

SHEFFIELD UNITED SUB! Cardiff have 20 minutes left to keep their winning run intact, but they have not really showed enough to even bag a leveller. United have just made a second change, bringing on Clayton Donaldson for David Brooks.

There has been very little incident over the past 13 minutes or so, with neither side fashioning any further chances. Simon Moore has still had just the two saved to make all evening - one in either half from Cardiff striker Zohore.

Play constantly being broken up at the moment, either by subs, offside calls or refereeing decisions. An incredibly frustrating night for Cardiff so far, and they now have a little over 15 minutes to rescue themselves a point.

OFF THE POST! No idea how United have yet to score a second. Clarke was waiting in the middle but was not spotted. The hosts then won a free kick, which was taken quickly and played into the path of Donaldson, who struck the post with his attempt.

CARDIFF CITY SUB! United have had one saved off the line and witnessed another attempt come back off the post. Zohore and Hoilett have been taken off; Wildschut and Pilkington, very much fringe players, on in their place.

Warnock will just be grateful that his side are in with a chance of snatching a point from this match, despite barely creating anything and seeing their opponents miss a number of openings. Cardiff have 12 goals in the last 10 minutes of games this term.

We are now into the final eight minutes at Bramall Lane and the story still remains the same. The hosts have looked good value for their one-goal lead and will climb back into the top six of the division if they can now see things through.

Bamba wiped out Evans but the decision actually went Cardiff's way. To add insult to injury for United, the tackle appeared to be just inside the penalty box so they would have had a good chance to double their tally had the decision gone their way.

Pilkington, Wildschut and Madine all now on for Cardiff, but the visitors have looked poor in the final third this evening. A goal now would feel like a winner, albeit extending their lead over Fulham to eight points instead of eight.

SAVE! Yet another save for Neil Etheridge to make, this time keeping out a strike from Leon Clarke in the middle. The sponsors have just named United midfielder John Fleck as their Man of the Match.

SHEFFIELD UNITED SUB! Ryan Leonard, replaced by Lee Evans in the starting lineup tonight, is brought on for the Welshman with just added time left to play. Warnock may well be wishing that the game was indeed snowed off today!

This is quite extraordinary! Cardiff could have no complaints if they were three goals behind, yet Pilkington has just swept home a fine volley to earn his side a share of the spoils. The Bluebirds' unbeaten run goes on!

Somehow, Cardiff City have left Bramall Lane with a share of the spoils. Their winning run may have ended after three months, but this will feel like a victory for Neil Warnock as his side should have lost by a few goals tonight. Full credit to the Bluebirds - they took their only real chance of the second half, with substitute Anthony Pilkington the hero.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from South Yorkshire. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction will be available elsewhere on the site in due course. Thanks for joining!