Preview: Sheffield United vs. West Bromwich Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

At a time when the Blades sit in second position in the Championship standings, West Brom are down in ninth spot, albeit with a game in hand.

Match preview

Having been drawn to face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals, that fixture quickly became merely a welcome day out at Wembley Stadium for the supporters of Sheffield United.

City ultimately ran out 3-0 victors, cruising to into the final, but Paul Heckingbottom would have already had one eye on the showdown with West Brom even before the full-time whistle on Saturday evening.

Back-to-back home wins over Cardiff City and Bristol City have set Sheffield United up to confirm their return to the Premier League, the current gap over third-placed Luton Town sitting at seven points.

Regardless of the result between the Hatters and fourth-placed Middlesbrough on Monday, Sheffield United will secure a place in next season's top flight should they win at Bramall Lane.

Having emerged victorious from four of their last five league outings at their Yorkshire ground, Heckingbottom will have complete faith that his team will finish the job on Wednesday.

West Brom had been on an upward trajectory with wins over Stoke City and Blackpool putting the club as favourites to earn a playoff spot.

However, Sunday's 2-1 home defeat to Sunderland has left Carlos Corberan's side two points adrift of the top six, leaving them to rely on their game in hand.

While a two-goal win would move the West Midlands outfit into fifth position, another defeat would leave them realistically needing to beat both of Norwich City and Swansea City.

Although West Brom have won their last two away fixtures in the second tier, just seven victories have been posted in 21 league matches away from The Hawthorns during 2022-23.

Sheffield United Championship form:

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L

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Sheffield United form (all competitions):

W

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West Bromwich Albion Championship form:

D

L

D

W

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L

Team News

Tommy Doyle and James McAtee could return to the Sheffield United XI after missing the FA Cup tie with their parent club.

Oli McBurnie will also expect to be recalled in the attack, with John Fleck, Oliver Norwood and Daniel Jebbison all potentially dropping down to the substitutes' bench.

Corberan will almost certainly tinker with his West Brom starting lineup having been left frustrated with their defeat to Sunderland.

Any alterations are likely to come in the midfield with Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Tom Rogic and Marc Albrighton all in contention for recalls.

Kyle Bartley may also return in the centre of defence, but the likes of Nathaniel Chalobah and Daryl Dike are among the players who remain on West Brom's injury list.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:

Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Berge, Doyle, Lowe; McAtee; Ndiaye, McBurnie

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi, Pieters, Townsend; Molumby, Gardner-Hickman; Wallace, Swift, Albrighton; Thomas-Asante

We say: Sheffield United 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

Although Sheffield United have a promotion carrot dangling in front of them, it is West Brom who are under the most pressure for this fixture. With that in mind, we can only back the Blades to prevail in a competitive contest, securing a return to the top flight in the process.

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