Sheff Utdvs.West Brom

The Blades were beat on their own patch by title rivals Burnley on Boxing Day, whilst the Baggies were unable to earn anything from a trip to Derby County.

Match preview

After a 10-game unbeaten run at Bramall Lane in the Championship - a spell which included a sensational nine victories - Sheffield United were finally conquered at their formidable Yorkshire base on Boxing Day, when promotion contenders Burnley snatched all three points.

For the first time since the defeat at Middlesbrough in late October, the Bladesmen failed to find the back of the net in a second-tier match last time out, with goals either side of the half-time whistle from midfielder Josh Brownhill and attacker Zian Flemming securing maximum points for the Clarets.

Losing only their third match of the second-tier campaign on Boxing Day, Sheffield United dropped from first to second place in the Championship table ahead of the final game of the calendar year, level on points with pacesetters Leeds United and just one ahead of Burnley in third.

Without a standout star in the attacking line, the Blades have seen a number of their key men share the goalscoring burden so far this season, with summer arrival Tyrese Campbell netting six in the division, whilst fellow striker Kieffer Moore and midfield maestro Gustavo Hamer have chipped in with five strikes each.

For the first time in 26 months, West Bromwich Albion played a Championship match without Carlos Corberan barking orders on the sidelines on Boxing Day, with the Spanish head coach departing for La Liga giants Valencia just moments before the arrival of midnight on Christmas Day.

An interim coaching team spearheaded by Albion legend Chris Brunt took charge of the managerless Baggies at Pride Park, where a first-half strike from Jerry Yates and an unfortunate own goal from Mason Holgate meant that Derby were the victors in the East Midlands in front of their home faithful.

Losing two of their last three matches in the second tier, West Brom have dropped down to eighth spot in the Championship standings ahead of a trip to Yorkshire on Sunday afternoon, two points behind Watford in sixth and a mammoth 13 points behind Sheffield United in second.

A shining festive light amid a backdrop of Corberan abandonment, academy graduate Tom Fellows is developing into one of the division's most productive wingers, with the England Under-21 international bagging two assists over the past week courtesy of his trademark stepover-cross combo.

Sheffield United Championship form:

W

D

W

W

W

L

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:

D

D

W

L

W

L

Team News

Finding the net in the reverse fixture at The Hawthorns just a few weeks ago, Sheffield United's Campbell has been sidelined until the New Year with a back injury.

The Blades' options in attacking positions are reduced further by the absence of Femi Seriki, who suffered a niggling calf issue earlier this month.

Enjoying a breakthrough campaign in the engine room of Sheffield United, Ollie Arblaster's progression has been curbed by a knee injury sustained in November.

It was a Boxing Day to forget for West Brom's Holgate, who netted an own goal past Alex Palmer before picking up a minor groin issue during the final stages at Pride Park.

As a result, interim boss Brunt might need to come up with a new solution at the back for the Baggies, with Callum Styles a candidate to come into the defence.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:

Cooper; Gilchrist, Souttar, Ahmedhodzic, Burrows; Davies, Peck, O'Hare, Brewster, Hamer; Moore

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Mowatt, Molumby; Fellows, Johnston, Diangana; Maja

We say: Sheffield United 1-0 West Bromwich Albion

After a Boxing Day blip at home to Burnley, we are expecting Sheffield United to return to somewhere near their best at Bramall Lane versus the Baggies.

Written by

Carter White

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