The Blades are looking to bounce back with a win over Blackpool at Bramall Lane, this Saturday. United are winless in three games, whilst Blackpool has picked up 4pts out of their last two games.
Despite suffering back-to-back losses, United are still at the top of the Championship on goal difference. Blackpool is 19th in the league, with most of their points being won away from home.
Michael Appleton replaced Neil Critchley in the summer, and since then Appleton has been deploying a 4-3-3 system. This is how I think Blackpool will line up on Saturday:
The Tangerines average the joint 2nd lowest possession per game, but in contrast to their possession, they average a high number of shots – 12.2 shots per game which ranks them in the top 10.
Interestingly, Blackpool has the joint highest dribbles per game in the league – 8.8 dribbles per game.
Appleton’s side has created 20 big scoring chances so far this season, and they have missed 12 of those. Due to their misfiring in front of goal, they are one of the lowest-scoring teams in the league.
They are one of the weaker defences in the league – conceding 17 goals.
Three of Blackpool’s four wins this season have been 1-0 victories.
The Tangerine’s best-performing outfield player this season has been Jerry Yates who has scored four goals and made one assist. Yates is averaging 1.5 shots per game. He is recording 1.2 key passes per game, and so far, he has created 5 big chances for his teammates.
Blackpool has registered an adequate number of xGF so far with 16.8. But, they have registered a poor number of xGA with 18.6.
Providing the Blades get some injured players back this weekend, this could be a good opportunity for United to bounce back. If they don’t get injured players back, Blackpool certainly has enough about them to potentially cause an upset.