Sheffield United will be aiming to reignite their promotion charge when they travel to Blackpool tomorrow night (kick-off; 7:45 pm).
Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades have been formidable at Bramall Lane this season and haven’t lost at S2 since 30th October, when tomorrow’s opposition, Blackpool were 1-0 victors. Away from home, the Blades form guide is a little different. Since the New Year, United have lost three times on the road in the Championship at Derby County, Millwall, and Coventry City last Saturday.
Despite putting a slight dent on United’s promotion hopes for a top-six finish, however, before tonight’s fixtures, the Blades are sixth in the league, though that may all change before they kick-off at Bloomfield Road. The Blades will be without former Seasiders Chris Basham (fitness), and John Fleck (groin), through injury. They will also be without strikers David McGoldrick (thigh), Rhian Brewster (hamstring), as well as defenders Jayden Bogle (knee), and Jack O’Connell (also knee) are all absent through injury.
Meanwhile, centre-half Jack Robinson is likely to start against his former club. Robinson enjoyed a season-long loan at tomorrow’s opposition, Blackpool, during the 2012-13 campaign, having signed in August 2012 on-loan from Liverpool. He made his debut in a 3-1 victory at Doncaster Rovers and throughout the season played 36 games in all competitions, as the Seasiders finished in a comfortable 15th position in the Championship. Along the way, the defender was dismissed on three occasions, before returning to his parent club.
Sheffield United will be aiming to exact revenge on their Championship opposition following a disturbing 1-0 defeat at home to Blackpool earlier in the season. Keshi Anderson’s strike against the run of play, on 76 minutes was enough to ensure a third straight victory for the Seasiders. However, the Blades were guilty of a static performance under former boss Slavia Jokanovic.
Blackpool will consider themselves as outsiders in reaching the top six. With ten games remaining of the domestic season, the Seasiders are twelfth in the table and six points behind the Play-Off pack. Any side looking to gain a last-minute entry into the top six will need to move fast.
The Lancashire club comes into this fixture having won their last three outings against Reading (4-1), at Stoke City (1-0), and at home to Swansea City last Saturday, which saw former Blades striker, Gary Madine net the games’ only goal after just 4 minutes.
Seasiders boss Neil Critchley has several injury concerns to contend with as he selects his squad to face the Blades. They are without seven players ahead of the visit of Paul Heckingbottom’s side. Goalkeeper Chris Maxwell (thigh), defenders; Luke Garbutt (knee), and Richard Keogh (calf), as well as midfielders; Matty Virtue (ACL), Keshi Anderson (hamstring), Sonny Carey (broken ankle), and Grant Ward (Achilles), are all sidelined through injury.
However, former Blades, Gary Madine, and CJ Hamilton will likely feature tomorrow night against their former club. Madine was controversially signed on loan from Cardiff City in January 2019 for the remainder of the season. He made his debut as a substitute in a 1-0 defeat at Swansea City, where Oli McBurnie netted the winner. He was part of the side which won promotion to the Premier League, making 16 appearances (10 as a substitute), and netted three goals during his time at Bramall Lane. Meanwhile, midfielder CJ Hamilton, was part of the Blades Academy from 2012 to 2016), but failed to make a first-team appearance before moving onto Mansfield Town on a free transfer.
Last Six Meetings
23.08.2008 – Blackpool 1-3 Sheffield United (Championship)
10.03.2009 – Sheffield United 2-2 Blackpool (Championship)
20.10.2009 – Blackpool 3-0 Sheffield United (Championship)
16.03.2010 – Sheffield United 3-0 Blackpool (Championship)
22.08.2015 – Sheffield United 2-0 Blackpool (League One)
26.01.2016 – Blackpool 0-0 Sheffield United (League One)
30.10.2021 – Sheffield United 0-1 Blackpool (Championship)