Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
EL Salvador
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
North Macedonia
South Africa
United Arab Emirates

Sheff Utdvs.Stoke

sportsmole.co.uk, 24 October 2024, 12:37
Aiming to bounce back from consecutive defeats and move back towards the top two in the Championship table, Sheffield United will welcome Stoke City to Bramall Lane on Saturday.

The hosts have suffered their first two league losses of the season following the recent international break, while their visitors sit 17th in the midst of a four-match unbeaten streak.

Match preview

Sheffield United head back to Bramall Lane on Saturday aiming to make a return to winning ways in their Championship promotion bid, having suffered their first setbacks of the campaign since the recent international break.

After beginning with a two-point deduction, the Blades enjoyed a fine start to their first season back in England's second tier, heading into the October break with the division's only remaining unbeaten streak in tact having earned six wins and three draws from their first nine matches to sit on 19 points.

That was largely thanks to a particularly impressive defensive record, having only conceded three goals in those nine outings, culminating in six consecutive clean sheets, but they have been unable to pick up where they left off on their return, firstly visiting Yorkshire rivals Leeds United on Friday and succumbing to a 2-0 defeat.

Then aiming to put that derby disappointment behind them, Chris Wilder's men faced another tough test on Wednesday in a trip to Middlesbrough and again left empty-handed, as the game remained goalless until the final 10 minutes, only for Emmanuel Latte Lath to put the hosts ahead 10 minutes from time and seal all three points.

Now left wounded having dropped three points behind the top two, lost their unbeaten record and failed to score in their last two attempts, Sheffield United will be desperate to get back to their best on Saturday and rejoin the leading pack with a return to winning ways on home turf.

They face another tricky test, though, as the visitors head to Yorkshire aiming to continue an improved run.

After suffering a poor start to their latest Championship campaign, Stoke City now find themselves in the midst of a four-game unbeaten streak, earning their first points under the management of Narcis Pelach in the process.

He succeeded Steven Schumacher in September, and after his tenure began with back-to-back defeats, the Spanish boss oversaw a 6-1 thrashing of Stoke and a goalless stalemate with Swansea City before the international break.

The Potters have since made it three consecutive draws on their return, firstly sharing the points at home to Norwich City as Million Manhoef levelled the game at a goal apiece on the stroke of half time, before hosting Bristol City on Tuesday and being pegged back to share the spoils by a Nahki Wells brace after Lewis Koumas and Andrew Moran had them 2-0 up early on.

While they will be left disappointed having failed to convert that lead into a fourth league win of the season, Pelach's men do appear to be growing in confidence, and now only trailing the top half by two points they will bid to make it five games unbeaten with a return to winning ways to quickly scale the division.

Sheffield United Championship form:

W

D

W

W

L

L

Stoke City Championship form:

L

L

W

D

D

D

Team News

Sheffield United head into the weekend without key midfielder Gustavo Hamer, who is suspended after being shown a fifth yellow card of the season against Middlesbrough, although Vinicius Souza will return from his own suspension and rejoin Oliver Arblaster in the engine room.

Chris Wilder may opt to make other alterations from Wednesday's defeat, with Harrison Burrows likely to displace Sam McCallum and rejoin Harry Souttar, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Alfie Gilchrist in a back four.

Tyrese Campbell and Andre Brooks will compete to start in attacking spots after Rhian Brewster, Callum O'Hare and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi supported lone front man Kieffer Moore at the Riverside Stadium.

Stoke City continue to contend with several injury issues heading into the weekend, with striker Sam Gallagher not yet ready to return to the starting XI while key midfielder Wouter Burger is confined to the treatment room alongside Lynden Gooch, Ben Pearson, Bosun Lawal and Ryan Mmaee.

Narcis Pelach may opt to deploy an unchanged team from Tuesday's draw with Bristol City, with Tom Cannon bound to again lead the line in Gallagher's absence having scored all four of his Championship goals this season in their thrashing of Portsmouth at the beginning of the month.

He will have support from Bae Junho, Lewis Koumas and Million Manhoef, while Andrew Moran and Jordan Thompson will continue their partnership in the midfield.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:

Cooper; Gilchrist, Souttar, Ahmedhodzic, Burrows; Souza, Arblaster; Rak-Sakyi, O'Hare, Brooks; Moore

Stoke City possible starting lineup:

Johansson; Wilmot, Rose, Gibson, Bocat; Thompson, Moran; Manhoef, Koumas, Junho; Cannon

We say: Sheffield United 1-0 Stoke City

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

1 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr cult hero Anderson Talisca has got involved in his old side's affairs, leading to suggestions he was targeting Cristiano Ronaldo. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's teenage starlet Nico O'Reilly was at the double as the Sky Blues secured a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals courtesy of a 3-1 comeback win over a spirited Plymouth Argyle side at the Etihad Stadium. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid's La Liga title hopes suffered a setback in Seville on Saturday evening, with the reigning champions suffering a 2-1 defeat to Manuel Pellegrini's Real Betis outfit. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly joined the race for Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez, with Los Blancos preparing to battle a number of clubs for his signature during this summer's transfer window. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Goztepe SK will look to end their four-game winless league run when they welcome Samsunspor to the Gursel Aksel Stadium on Monday. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Wolves talisman Matheus Cunha left his side a man down and out of the FA Cup with a bizarre last minute red card. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during this summer's transfer window. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United reportedly view Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery as a potential replacement for Ruben Amorim, should the club decide to make another change in the dug-out at the end of the campaign. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Millwall supporters are set to be investigated by the Football Association for homophobic chants aimed at Ben Chilwell. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made 11 changes to his starting lineup for this evening's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Plymouth Argyle at the Etihad Stadium. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The reigning FA Cup holders take on a team who have never won the tournament in Sunday's fifth-round contest, as Manchester United welcome Fulham to their Old Trafford home. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has apparently turned down Los Blancos' first offer of a new contract amid interest from 'several teams' in the burgeoning centre-back. 1 March 2025 talksport.com A new rule is set to be introduced next season to combat time-wasting from goalkeepers. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Following their cup success in midweek, Sporting Lisbon will aim to build on that momentum when they return to Primeira Liga action on Monday for round 24, welcoming Estoril Praia to Estadio Jose Alvalade. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will continue their La Liga campaign with a home fixture against Real Sociedad on Sunday afternoon. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl has warned Joshua Kimmich that no player is above the club as the Arsenal-linked midfielder reportedly hesitates over a new contract. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Despite an initially promising start in coaching, John Terry is now set to switch careers. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly prepared to rival AC Milan for Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Rayan Ait-Nouri. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Jose Mourinho's four-match ban has been halved and his £35,000 fine reduced after a successful appeal. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly not ruled out the prospect of making an effort to sign Chelsea defender Levi Colwill this summer. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Konyaspor will be looking to inject some much-needed momentum into their survival fight in the Turkish Super Lig when they host Trabzonspor at Torku Arena on Monday. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides looking to bounce back from recent defeats in the Turkish Super Lig go head-to-head on Monday as Gaziantep host Eyupspor at the Gaziantep Stadium 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk AC Milan are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro this summer. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Burnley players refused to shake the hand of Preston's Milutin Osmajic, who was accused of racism by Clarets star Hannibal Mejbri just two weeks ago. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta was rushed to hospital after a shocking challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts. 1 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest news as the FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend. 1 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest news as the FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend. 1 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest news as the FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend. 1 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest news as the FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Brazilian star Neymar has revealed that he was offered an unlimited amount of money to play for Real Madrid, but turned it down.