Next up for the Blades is an away trip to Stoke City. After accumulating 1 point from their last two home games, United will be hoping to lean on their recent away success to get 3pts back on the board.
United are now level on points with Norwich City, but United remain ahead on goal difference only, coming into this next round of fixtures. Meanwhile, Stoke City are all the way down in 20th place.
Since Alex Neil signed for Stoke, he has insisted on playing a 3-5-2, varying from a holding midfielder and two eights in front, to a centre-midfield pairing with an attacking-midfielder ahead of them.
Here is how I think Stoke will line up against the Blades on Saturday:
The appointment of Alex Neil hasn’t exactly changed Stoke City’s form. Neil’s record at Stoke is won 1, drawn 2 and lost 2. Although they aren’t in great form, this will be a tough away fixture with Stoke playing an aggressive style.
Stoke City have averaged the 2nd most highest crosses in the division, and they are a threat from set pieces scoring 3 times already. They have also scored directly from a Lewis Baker freekick.
On the flip side, Stoke has conceded 4 times from set pieces. United have scored 5 times from that source.
Stoke takes 30% of their shots from outside of the box and they have scored 3 goals from these situations (not including the free-kick goal).
The Potters don’t start games off particularly well conceding 4 goals inside the first 20 minutes of games so far this season. Incidentally, the Blades have scored 4 goals in the first 20 minutes of games.
Lewis Baker is a serious threat for Stoke City. Baker has made 6 goal contributions (4 goals/2 assists) which equate to 50% of Stoke City’s goals in the Championship. Here is a look at his heatmap below:
As you can see, he is a busy midfielder operating across the pitch, but mainly from the right halfspace.
Stoke is one of the worst teams in the league defensively, so, it’s no surprise to see them down in 20th. According to the Infogol model, Stoke should be 19th which is 1 position up from where they currently are.
Their home form has been tragic this season, accumulating 5pts from 5 games at home so far. With Stoke being slow starters and United being fast starters, I think if United could get an early goal on Saturday then it will get the home crowd on Stokes back which will benefit the Blades.