Sheffield United will welcome Plymouth Argyle to Bramall Lane on Saturday for an important game at both ends of the Championship table.
The hosts kept hold of top spot with an away win over Millwall on Wednesday, while their visitors dropped to 23rd spot following a third straight defeat in midweek.
Match preview
© Imago
Sheffield United return to Bramall Lane aiming to increase a lead at the summit of the Championship table, having extended an unbeaten run to nine league matches in midweek.
In their bid to make an immediate return to the Premier League under the management of Chris Wilder, the Blades have overcome a two-point deduction to sit top of England's second tier with 42 points on the board from 20 outings, winning 13 of those and only suffering two defeats along the way.
That is largely down to a near-perfect home record, having won each of their last eight matches at Bramall Lane without conceding, most recently beating Sunderland 1-0 before travelling to West Bromwich Albion last Sunday and taking a share of the spoils from a 2-2 draw thanks to first-half goals from Callum O'Hare and Tyrese Campbell.
A trip to Millwall then followed most recently on Wednesday, and Wilder's men made it nine games unbeaten including seven victories as Rhian Brewster netted the only goal of the game late in the first half.
Now sitting a point clear at the top of the table and four ahead of third-placed Burnley, Sheffield United will bid to extend their eye-catching run on home turf and put another victory on the board to further strengthen their promotion bid.
© Imago
In their way stand a visiting side desperate for a win of their own in their fight at the other end of the table.
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season and turning to Wayne Rooney over the summer, Plymouth Argyle have endured a tough start to their second straight Championship campaign, currently sitting 23rd having earned just 17 points from their first 19 games.
It in on the road where the Pilgrims have struggled, having picked up all four victories and 15 of their points at Home Park, while their 10 away trips have produced a league-low tally of two points.
They head into the weekend's trip on the back of three straight defeats and five matches without a win, having suffered 6-1 and 4-0 beatings away at Norwich City and Bristol City respectively in late November before most recently hosting Swansea City on Tuesday and again coming away empty-handed, with Mustapha Bundu's goal not enough to spark a turnaround after Jay Fulton and Liam Cullen had the visitors 2-0 up.
Now only leading basement side Hull City by one point but only trailing Cardiff City and Portsmouth on goal difference and 20th-placed Oxford United by a single point too, Plymouth Argyle will aim to move out of the bottom three with a first away victory of the season on Saturday.
Team News
© Imago
Sheffield United will remain without attacker Tyrese Campbell and midfielder Oliver Arblaster due to injuries, while key centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic also missed Wednesday's trip to Millwall with a knock and may not be deemed fit to feature.
Midfielder Vinicius Souza is a fresh concern after being forced off early in the second half last time out, and he may be afforded time to recover with Tom Davies in line to earn a first start of the season in midfield alongside Sydie Peck after his own injury layoff.
If Ahmedhodzic's absence continues, Jack Robinson and Harry Souttar will continue at the heart of a back four, while Rhian Brewster should again lead the line despite competition from the returning Kieffer Moore, having earned the Blades all three points with his first goal in over two years on Wednesday.
Plymouth Argyle are hit with several enforced absences of their own, with Joe Edwards, Ibrahim Cissoko and Morgan Whittaker, who contributed 19 goals and eight assists in the Championship last season, remaining sidelined.
They will be boosted by the return of Adam Forshaw from a suspension, though, and he could come in to join Adam Randell in the midfield, while Rooney may opt to add another defender to his setup given their recent leaky record.
Indeed, Kornel Szucs, Lewis Gibson and Brendan Galloway could start in the middle of a back five, while Andre Gray, Ryan Hardie, Michael Obafemi, Mustapha Bundu and Freddie Issaka will compete for attacking spots.
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Gilchrist, Souttar, Robinson, Burrows; Davies, Peck; Rak-Sakyi, O'Hare, Hamer; Brewster
Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Mumba, Szucs, Gibson, Galloway, Ogbeta; Randell, Forshaw; Bundu, Gray, Obafemi
We say: Sheffield United 2-0 Plymouth Argyle
Given their recent struggles and lack of confidence, we do not back Plymouth Argyle to end Sheffield United's formidable home run, instead anticipating another three-point haul and clean sheet for Chris Wilder's men.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
