National League side York City play host to Championship outfit Sheffield United at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
This friendly fixture represents the first of pre-season for both teams ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Match preview
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Sheffield United are preparing for life back in the Championship following a 2023-24 season of regression and misery both on and off the pitch, culminating with a 20th-placed finish and relegation from the Premier League.
The Blades won just three of their 38 top-flight games and accumulated only 16 points, finishing the same number of points adrift of safety. They also conceded a record 104 goals and scored a league-low 35 times, with their goal difference of -69 the joint-worst in Premier League history, equalling Derby County's from 2007-08.
Chris Wilder returned to Bramall Lane to succeed Paul Heckingbottom in December, penning an 18-month contract, but he was unable to turn the club's fortunes around and is now tasked with rebuilding a squad capable of challenging at the right end of the Championship and one that avoids becoming a second-tier also-ran.
Amid off-field ownership and financial issues, Sheffield United will begin the 2024-25 season on -2 points after an independent EFL disciplinary commission imposed the sanction in relation to defaulting on payments to other clubs two seasons ago.
Before travelling to Preston North End for their opening Championship fixture of the new campaign, Sheffield United will endeavour to put together a strong run of form across four pre-season friendlies, with Saturday's clash against York to be followed by encounters with Chesterfield, Harrogate Town and Rotherham United.
The Blades have won six and drawn two of their previous eight competitive meetings with York, who are gearing up for their third successive season in the National League following a 20th-placed finish in 2023-24.
Adam Hinshelwood was appointed first-team manager in February, replacing Neal Ardley, and steered the Minstermen to four wins in their final 11 games of the season to finish just one point above the bottom four - York narrowly avoided relegation on the final day after Boreham Wood could only draw with Ebbsfleet.
Survival will be the priority once again in 2024-25 for York, who began pre-season training at the end of last month and currently have six friendlies scheduled before they kick-start the new campaign away at Southend United on August 10.
York were due to face Huddersfield Town in a friendly earlier this week, but it was mutually cancelled "following discussion between both clubs", so their first pre-season match of the summer will be on Saturday against Sheffield United, before facing Whitby Town, Grimsby Town, Darlington, Notts County and Spennymoor Town.
Team News
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With this being the first pre-season friendly for both clubs, it is unclear how strong either manager will go for Saturday's contest.
Sheffield United have already confirmed a host of departures including John Egan, Chris Basham, Oliver Norwood, Max Lowe, Oli McBurnie, George Baldock, Ben Osborn, Wes Foderingham and Daniel Jebbison.
The Blades have added versatile right-back Jamie Shackleton to their ranks this summer, while left-back Sam McCallum was unveiled as a new signing from Norwich City on Thursday.
As for York, the likes of Alex Woodyard, Kai Kennedy, Will Davies, Finlay Barnes, Sam Sanders and Tyler Cordner have all left the club, the latter joining Ebbsfleet on loan, while Darragh O'Connor, Tyrese Sinclair, Ashley Nathaniel-George, Ollie Pearce, Joe Felix, Harrison Male and Alex Hunt have all joined the club and could feature this weekend.
We say: York City 1-3 Sheffield United
Both teams could be a little rusty as they are yet to build up any match fitness this summer, but should Sheffield United name a relatively strong side, they should have the quality to come out on top against their non-league counterparts.
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Oliver Thomas
