Sheffield United will be looking to carry on from last weekend’s victory at Queens Park Rangers by securing their first victory at Bramall Lane when they host Norwich City today (3pm).
The Blades began the new season with quick-fire defeats to Swansea City (1-2) and Middlesbrough (0-3) but picked up their first win of the campaign following an impressive display at QPR (2-1) last weekend. In midweek a penalty shoot-out defeat knocked them out of the Carabao Cup, with Hull advancing to the next round following a 1-1 draw.
Chris Wilder could be without a number of key players ahead of today’s match. Paul Coutts is still unavailable and David McGoldrick (dead leg) is doubtful. However a bug has swept through the training camp with Mark Duffy being assessed prior to kick-off.
New signing Oliver Norwood (from Brighton) made his full debut in the cup-defeat to Hull and is expected to make his league debut today.
Norwich were famous for time wasting in last season’s Lane encounter and saw the Norfolk side return to Carrow Road with maximum points with just one goal separating the two sides. United will be wary of identical tactics, particularly when city have picked up just one point from their two games played thus far.
They kick started the season with a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City before registering a dramatic 3-4 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion. With just a single point to their name this has left them 17th in the league.
Norwich boss Daniel Farke made several changes for their cup victory over Stevenage in midweek. Former Newcastle stopper Tim Krul is expected to be recalled whilst Jordan Rhodes (on-loan from Sheffield Wednesday) is also expected to re-claim his starting place.
Defender Jamal Lewis (dead leg) could also return from injury. Meanwhile Matt Jarvis (ankle) and Carlton Morris (knee) are sidelined through injury.
Win, lose or the booze?
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