Sheffield United welcome Newcastle United to Bramall Lane this weekend looking to continue their good run of form.
The Blades made it seven unbeaten away from home with a draw at Wolves last weekend. It pushed Chris Wilder and his team into the Premier League record books at the same time.
For Newcastle, it was another improved weekend. They held current champions Manchester City to a draw at St James’ Park. The Magpies come into the game with two wins, two draws, and two defeats from their last six outings.
Manager Steve Bruce will know it’s a tough ask to win at Bramall Lane. The Blades have won two of the last three at home, while they played well against Manchester United and drew 3-3 a few weeks back.
Team news
There doesn’t seem to be any fresh injury worries for Blades manager Chris Wilder. He welcomed back Lys Mousset and John Egan at the weekend and both seemed to come away from Molineux unscathed.
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The question for Wilder will be if he decides to rest anyone with a busy fixture list ahead. Three of his players are one yellow away from a suspension. John Lundstram, John Fleck, and George Baldock the players who need to be careful.
Newcastle could well decide to change things up themselves. Like Wilder, manager Steve Bruce has admitted that he might need to utilise his squad in the coming weeks.
The likes of Dwight Gayle and Sean Longstaff, then, could be pushing for a return to the starting XI. Long-term casualties such as Jamal Lascelles and Matt Ritchie remain out, while winger Allan Saint-Maximim could be struggling to recover from the weekend in time.
Likely line-ups
Last time out and history
Newcastle ran out winners the last time the sides met in the Premier League. A 2-1 win at Bramall Lane played a big part in the Blades being relegated back to the second tier back in 2007.
Newcastle also won twice the season they played in the Championship against United.
The Blades will be looking to get one over on the Magpies. Danny Webber’s winner away at St James’ Park in their last Premier League campaign was a highlight moment of the season.
Our view and prediction
This is a massive game for both teams and one Sheffield United will fancy to pick three points up in. Chris Wilder has made no secret of the fact the next few weeks are a big part of the season for the Blades.
After Christmas they play big hitters like Man City and Liverpool. The upcoming games against the likes of Newcastle, Watford, and Aston Villa represent a big chance for the Blades to put some good points on the board.
This will be a tight and tricky affair but we feel United have enough in the tank to see Steve Bruce’s men off. They’ll be dangerous on the counter, but we fancy the Blades to add three points to their already impressive total.
Prediction – Sheffield United 2-0 Newcastle