After a late second-half comeback fell just short on Saturday, Sheffield United have a chance to bounce back on Tuesday when they host League Two side Mansfield Town in a pre-season friendly.
The Blades conceded three times in the opening half at Scunthorpe United, falling 3-2, while the Stags remained unbeaten, drawing Rotherham United 1-1.
Match preview
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It was a disappointing opening 45 minutes this past weekend which proved to be their undoing, as Sheffield United struggled with a sticky pitch and the heat at Glanford Park.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom has seen his side start poorly many times throughout these friendlies, conceding four goals in the opening half.
Under the former Leeds United and Barnsley boss, Sheffield United were successful last year domestically when showing more collective balance all over the field, limiting the freedom of individuals, with team structured play and a high mobility at every position.
Before the start of their 2021-22 Championship campaign, the Blades went unbeaten in their pre-season affairs but did not begin the domestic campaign very well, going winless in their first five games.
After losing out in a penalty shootout to Nottingham Forest in a semi-final playoff last season, the goal for 2022-23 will be to climb back into the Premier League.
Dating back to their previous league campaign, this team have won six consecutive matches when tallying the opener, going five straight games without conceding over that stretch.
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In what was their biggest pre-season test so far, Nigel Clough saw his Mansfield Town players show plenty of resilience, scoring with five minutes remaining to draw a side who are two levels above them in the English football league system.
There have been a lot of things for Clough to like about how his side have performed in these friendlies, particularly their defensive shape, conceding just a single goal after three matches.
Although it is challenging to take a lot away from these friendlies, especially playing teams they will not be competing against domestically, it has to be encouraging to see that they have not conceded when scoring first.
That was one of the biggest disappointments for them down the stretch of last season, as they dropped four points from winning positions in their final two games in League Two, points which looking back now would have moved them up to third in the standings and given them an automatic spot in League One.
While they did not get the promotion they sought, this club have steadily progressed under Clough, doing a fine job at controlling the pace of their games and showing more poise when off the ball.
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Team News
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Iliman Ndiaye and Rhian Brewster tallied for Sheffield United for the first time in the pre-season over the weekend, while Sander Berge has two goals in their three matches.
Tommy Doyle, who is on loan from Manchester City, could miss this match because of an issue with his thigh, Wes Foderingham has a calf strain and Jack O'Connell is out until early August with a knee injury.
Rhys Norrington-Davies has sat out of their last two games with a concussion, while Ciaran Clark, who recently joined them on loan from Newcastle United, saw his first action this past weekend, replacing Jack Robinson for the final 20 minutes.
Christy Pym is the first goalkeeper to concede for Mansfield Town in this pre-season, but he was rescued by some late heroics from Rhys Oates, who notched the equaliser on Saturday.
Hiram Boateng had the only goal in their 1-0 victory away to Matlock Town, Scott Flinders collected a clean sheet in that encounter, while he and Owen Mason combined for a shutout in a previous victory, 6-0 versus Retford United.
Riley Harbottle saw his first action of the pre-season since joining Mansfield on a season-long loan from Nottingham Forest, while Ollie Clarke and George Lapslie were newcomers to the starting 11.
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Davies; Baldock, Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Clark; Lowe, Norwood, Osborn; Berge, Lopata; McBurnie
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Flinders; Gordon, McLaughlin, Hewitt, Cooper; Clarke, Quinn, Maris; Hawkins, Knowles, Akins
We say: Sheffield United 1-0 Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town performed admirably over the weekend against a side who are superior to them on paper, but the Blades possess more depth and quality, which will make it difficult for Yellow to create much when on the ball.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
