Preview: Sunderland vs. Sheffield United - prediction, team news, lineups

The Black Cats were surprise winners at Norwich City on the weekend, while Sheffield United suffered a loss that puts further doubt on their top-two credentials this season.

Match preview

Sunderland ended a three-game losing run on Sunday afternoon as they earned a much-needed win at Carrow Road against a resurgent Norwich side, with Abdoullah Ba's long-range finish enough to secure all the points in East Anglia.

The Black Cats' campaign looked in danger of fizzling out into midtable mediocrity following a four-match winless spell - one which included a damaging 5-1 loss at Stoke City - however a win over the playoff-chasing Canaries has kept the North-East club in the hunt for the top six.

Tony Mowbray's men are currently 10th in the second-tier standings, five points behind sixth-placed Millwall with 10 games left to play - Sunderland are certainly not in the driving seat but still have a chance of achieving successive promotions.

Despite the Stadium of Light being a famous and often-feared destination for visiting teams, Mowbray's side have fared better on their travels so far this season, winning only six of their 17 Championship home fixtures.

Facing the Blades, Luton Athletic and league-leaders Burnley in their next three matches, Sunderland supporters will know a lot more about the fate of their team by the start of April - and perhaps whether they should be rebooking those London hotels from last May.

One of the only teams in the division who do not want to see the Wembley arch this season are Sheffield United, with Blades hearts fully set on gaining promotion to the Premier League through the automatic-promotion spots.

Paul Heckingbottom's side ran away from the rest of the league with Vincent Kompany's Clarets at the start of campaign, however a run of four losses in their last six has seen United left behind by Burnley and the chasing pack close in.

The Blades are still second in the Championship table, although a weekend victory for Middlesbrough means Michael Carrick's Boro are now only four points behind in third, meaning there may be quite a thrilling battle for promotion in the last 10 games of this campaign.

United have lost key fixtures against both Boro and Luton in the last month, with the experienced heads of John Egan and Billy Sharp needed more than ever to steady the Sheffield ship through a rough spell in their promotion charge.

The forward pairing of Iliman Ndiaye and Oli Mcburnie have 22 Championship goals between them this term so far, and you get the feeling the former has the ability to drag Heckingbottom's men over the line into the top flight.

Sunderland Championship form:

W

D

L

L

L

W

Sheffield United Championship form:

L

L

W

L

W

L

Sheffield United form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

W

L

Team News

Sunderland remain without long-term absentee Ross Stewart for the visit of Sheffield United on Wednesday, with the attacker's season finished after he suffered an Achilles tendon injury.

Amad Diallo is a doubt for this match after picking up a hamstring injury in training on Friday, although Mowbray is more confident about the youngster being available for the home match with Luton on Saturday.

There is roughly the same timescale of return for midfielder Alex Pritchard who sustained a knock which left him unable to feature at Carrow Road on Sunday.

Blades boss Heckingbottom looks set to make changes to an XI which failed to impress against the Hatters on Saturday, with Sharp, Thomas Doyle and James McAtee all pushing for starts.

Rhys Norrington-Davies, Rhian Brewster and Jack O'Connell all remain in the medical room and are not expected back in first-team action until after the international break.

Sunderland possible starting lineup:

Patterson; Hume, Ballard, Batth, O'Nien; Neil, Michut, Roberts, Ba, Clarke; Gelhardt

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:

Foderingham; Bogle, Egan, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Lowe; Berge, Norwood, Doyle; Ndiaye, McBurnie

We say: Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield United

Sunderland maintained their playoff dreams with a win at Norwich on Sunday, and now must deal with the quick turnaround to face another of the division's best outfits in Sheffield United.

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