MY ACCOUNT
– Sheffield United have won six of their last seven home fixtures
– West Brom have tasted defeat on six of their last nine road trips
– Recommended bet: Sheffield United to win
Sheffield United’s FA Cup adventure came to an end on Saturday with a respectable 3-0 loss to Manchester City but their top priority is the Championship promotion race and they have a chance to seal the deal when taking on top-six hopefuls West Brom at Bramall Lane.
The Blades are not showing any signs of nerves and came on strong in the second half of last Tuesday’s 1-0 success at home to Bristol City to take them to the brink of a top flight return.
West Brom’s promotion push has been more of a grind and it appears to be running out of steam.
Albion suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to play-off rivals Sunderland on Sunday and they might have to win all of their three remaining matches to ensure an extended season.
Sheffield United vs West Brom (Wednesday, 8pm)
Team news
The Blades welcome back City loanees Tommy Doyle and James McAtee, who were ineligible to face their parent club at Wembley.
Rhys Norrington-Davies, Rhian Brewster, Ben Osborn and Enda Stevens remain on the injured list.
West Brom continue to be severely restricted by injuries with Kean Bryan, Grady Diangana, Matt Phillips, Nathanial Chalobah, Dara O’Shea, Daryl Dike and Adam Reach ruled out.
The stats
The Blades have got the second best home record in the Championship and will be bidding for a fifth successive Bramall Lane success.
The Steel City outfit have been relying on a solid defence with five of their last seven league wins secured by a 1-0 scoreline.
Albion have won their last two away fixtures and have found the net in five consecutive games.
However, they have been beaten on each of their last two visits to Bramall Lane.
Prediction
It has been a superb season for the Blades, who moved into the top two before the World Cup with a 1-0 win at Cardiff and have stayed there ever since.
Manager Paul Heckingbottom may have to be mindful of one or two tired legs after Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final reverse but he can freshen things up with the inclusions of Doyle and McAtee and his team should benefit from the energy and encouragement imparted by an expectant home crowd.
United have already overcome the Baggies once this season – winning 2-0 at the Hawthorns in October – and should complete the double against an opponent struggling to get to grips with a lengthy injury list.
Albion will be without seven senior players, including influential attackers Phillips, Diangana and Dike, and central defender O’Shea, who has been sorely missed in recent weeks.
There has been a general expectation that Albion would eventually force their way into the top six but they fluffed their lines at the weekend and are unlikely to fare any better against the Blades.
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