Burkina Faso
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

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

8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A rematch of the 2024 MLS Cup final will take place on Saturday when the New York Red Bulls host the Los Angeles Galaxy at Red Bull Arena. 8 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to continue their climb towards the top half of the La Liga table, Valencia will welcome Getafe to the Estadio de Mestalla on Saturday. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique joked that his team comes from the "league of farmers" following their Champions League success over Arsenal on Wednesday night. 7 May 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT host Jason Cundy believes Arsenal may have a leadership problem on their hands. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have set a new unwanted club record following their defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals of the Champions League this evening. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Mikel Arteta has claimed his Arsenal team have been the best in the Champions League this season, despite suffering elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain this evening. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Mikel Arteta has been warned serious questions will be asked about his position as Arsenal manager after they crashed out of the Champions League. 7 May 2025 talksport.com French police deployed tear gas on unruly fans following Paris Saint-Germain's opening goal against Arsenal. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hoffenheim can take a significant step towards Bundesliga survival when they travel to Volkswagen Arena on Friday to play Wolfsburg. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal's wait for Champions League glory goes on as they suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the semi-finals to Paris Saint-Germain. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain will face Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich at the end of the month after finishing the job in the French capital at home to Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final clash this evening, winning 2-1 at the Parc des Princes and advancing 3-1 on aggregate. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou claimed talking about Tottenham 'does crazy things to people', including former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Leeds United are reportedly interested in Everton striker Beto as they prepare for life in the Premier League. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur travel to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt at Aspmyra Stadion for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie on Thursday night. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United welcome Athletic Bilbao to Old Trafford for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie on Thursday night. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea take a whopping three-goal advantage into the second leg of their Conference League semi-final at home to Djurgardens IF at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night. 7 May 2025 talksport.com One time England manager Peter Taylor is continuing his management career into his 70s by accepting a new job. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed their starting lineups for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, and Ousmane Dembele has only been named on the bench for Les Parisiens. 7 May 2025 talksport.com A familiar voice will be missing when Paris Saint-Germain host Arsenal on Wednesday night as Rio Ferdinand is in hospital. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal take on Paris Saint-Germain tonight in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, live on talkSPORT. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Arsenal's last hopes of winning a trophy were extinguished by Paris Saint-Germain who beat the Gunners 3-1 on aggregate to seal a place in the Champions League final. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that James Maddison will miss the rest of the season with the knee injury he sustained in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final with Bodo/Glimt. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United teenager Bendito Mantato has reportedly signed a new deal at Old Trafford until June 2029. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly been handed a boost in their pursuit of Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo, with Liverpool cooling their interest in the Cameroon international. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be aiming to make it eight wins from nine in all competitions when they make the trip to St Mary's to face already-relegated Southampton on Saturday afternoon. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Betis chief executive Ramon Alarcon has suggested that his club will find it difficult to sign Manchester United attacker Antony on a permanent basis during this summer's transfer window. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Bayern Munich legend Bastian Schweinsteiger said Harry Kane must win a Champions League to be considered a club great. 7 May 2025 talksport.com Liverpool should release Trent Alexander-Arnold from his contract early, but only for the club's sake. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Miami have reportedly ended their pursuit of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne. 7 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bournemouth have reportedly made a verbal offer to sign Nantes defender Nathan Zeze this summer.