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Sheffield United logo
Championship | Gameweek 9
Sep 25, 2021 at 3pm UK
Bramall Lane
Derby logo

Sheff Utd
1 - 0
Derby

Sharp (90' pen.)
Gibbs-White (24')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Shinnie (24')
Roos (57')

Preview: Sheffield United vs. Derby County - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Sheffield United and Derby County, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Sheffield United play host to Derby County on Saturday afternoon having put together a four-match unbeaten streak in the Championship.

While the Blades have moved into 14th position, Derby now sit bottom of the table after the EFL enforced a 12-point deduction for the club moving into administration.


Match preview

Sheffield United's John Egan celebrates scoring their second goal against Hull City in the Championship on September 18, 2021© Reuters

At a time when some clubs will say that the international break came at the wrong moment, Slavisa Jokanovic knows that the two-week interval was pivotal in changing Sheffield United's fortunes for the better.

Seven points and 11 goals have come from fixtures against Peterborough United, Preston North End and Hull City, kick-starting the Blades' campaign after an abysmal start.

The introductions of Iliman Ndiaye and Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Morgan Gibbs-White have made all the difference, the midfield duo chipping in with four goals and three assists between them.

Jokanovic will be less than satisfied with the defensive effort of his team with five strikes being conceded during the same triple-header.

Nevertheless, Sheffield United are back among the mix in mid-table, the best scenario that they could have hoped for after failing to win any of their first five fixtures.

Derby County manager Wayne Rooney on September 14, 2021© Reuters

Staying on the subject of best-case scenarios and simply surviving as a football club will be what Derby supporters are craving at the present time.

The inevitable move into administration has left the Rams nine points adrift of safety and with the prospect of further sanctions to follow in the future.

Last weekend's 2-1 win over Stoke City was a show of defiance from Wayne Rooney's squad, but the reality is that this squad are playing on borrowed time ahead of the necessary sales and departures in January.

Max Bird finally netted his first Derby goal during that fixture, and Rooney will hope for more of the same as Derby look to move off minus points at Bramall Lane.

Saturday's game is a repeat of last month's EFL Cup second round tie, which the home side won by a 2-1 scoreline.

Sheffield United Championship form:
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W

Sheffield United form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D

Derby County Championship form:
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W

Derby County form (all competitions):
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W



Team News

Sheffield United manager Slavisa Jokanovic on September 11, 2021© Reuters

Ben Davies is expected to start for Sheffield United after his late withdrawal against Hull proved to be a precautionary measure.

While Ndiaye is pushing for a recall to the starting lineup, Jokanovic may be content with using the same 11 players which started at the KCOM Stadium.

Despite Oliver McBurnie's goal against Southampton in the EFL Cup, Billy Sharp will lead the Blades attack.

With a week of preparation, Rooney is likely to stick with the Derby XI which performed so impressively against Stoke in difficult circumstances.

Kamil Jozwiak may be considered for a starting role on one of the flanks, potentially taking the place of Louie Sibley.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Olsen; Baldock, Egan, Davies, Norrington-Davies; Hourihane, Fleck; Brewster, Gibbs-White, Osborn; Sharp

Derby County possible starting lineup:
Roos; Byrne, Jagielka, Davies, Buchanan; Bird, Shinnie; Sibley, Morrison, Lawrence; Baldock


SM words green background

We say: Sheffield United 3-0 Derby County

With both clubs moving in opposite directions over the past couple of weeks, this could prove to be a one-sided contest. While Derby will continue to fight for the cause, we see the Blades cruising to victory at Bramall Lane.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data



ID:464924:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect9272:
Written by
Darren Plant

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Sheffield United win with a probability of 44.97%. A draw had a probability of 28.2% and a win for Derby County had a probability of 26.8%.

The most likely scoreline for a Sheffield United win was 1-0 with a probability of 13.9%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (9.04%) and 2-1 (8.46%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (13%), while for a Derby County win it was 0-1 (10%). The actual scoreline of 1-0 was predicted with a 13.9% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted a 1-0 win for Sheffield United in this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Sheff Utd vs Derby

Sheffield United
80.9%
Draw
10.6%
Derby County
8.5%
47
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Derby County manager Wayne Rooney on September 14, 2021
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


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