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Blades Deepdale Date

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Sheffield United travel to Deepdale this evening to face Preston North End (kick-off; 7:45 pm), in the re-arranged fixture that originally was scheduled for Boxing Day.

 

Supporters of Sheffield United, and Preston North End found their Christmas ruined following the postponement of their Boxing Day clash due to Covid-19 within the Lilywhites camp. Furthermore, the Blades were also left gutted when, for the same reasons, back-to-back home fixtures with Hull City, and Middlesbrough were also postponed.

 

After 26 days without Championship football, the Blades returned to action last Saturday at bottom of the table in Derby County and were given something of a rude awakening. Having been dumped out of the FA Cup in Round Three at Wolverhampton Wanderers, losing 3-0, the Blades continue 2022 searching for their first victory of the year after losing 2-0 at Pride Park

 

They say the league table never lies, it’s a shame the same cannot be said for Derby, who otherwise would be floating in mid-table obscurity had then not been cruelly deducted 21-points. If their form continues they will no doubt ensure Championship is secured for next season – assuming they are not hit with further penalties. The Rams pushed United aside with two second-half goals from Tom Lawrence on 69 and 78 minutes.

 

United will be without manager, Paul Heckingbottom, who is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19, and is likely to be absent from the dugout at Deepdale. Instead, the team will be guided by his assistants, Jack Lester, and Stuart McCall. On the field, the Blades are expected to be without defenders George Baldock (muscle), and Jack O’Connell (knee), through injury, whilst midfielder John Fleck is also sidelined through injury.

 

Meanwhile, at the time of writing, it is unclear whether keeper Robin Olsen, on-loan from Italian giants Roma, remains a Sheffield United player. Currently injured, the stopper is linked with a recall and immediate move to Premier League side Aston Villa.

 

Sheffield United ought to have walked away with three valuable points when they faced Preston at Bramall Lane earlier in the season on 14th September. They came on the cusp of claiming maximum points with the match finishing 2-2 but it was the visitors who had the final say in the game, scoring five minutes deep into stoppage time through Emil Riis Jakobsen. United had taken an early lead through on-loan Wolves midfielder, Morgan Gibbs-White, who scored his second consecutive goal for the club after 7 minutes. Typically, the Lillywhites responded through Daniel Johnson on 19 minutes and the game looked won for the hosts when substitute Sander Berge flashed home on 84 minutes. Though it would be North End who would have the final say after capitalising on slack defending to hook the ball across the box for Jakobsen to finish. 

 

 

Preston comes into this fixture three league matches unbeaten with two wins and a draw to their name, having claimed victories over Barnsley, and at Stoke City, before drawing 1-1 at home to Birmingham City at the weekend. North End had taken the lead through defender Patrick Bauer on 31 minutes before the Blues levelled with four minutes remaining via former Blade Scott Hogan.

 

Before their fixture last weekend, the club unexpectedly allowed former Crystal Palace, Sunderland, and Sheffield Wednesday striker Conor Wickham to leave Deepdale after just two appearances with the Lancashire club. Lilywhites boss Ryan Lowe is also expected to be without keeper Declan Rudd (injured), Isiah Brown (Achilles), through injury, whilst Josh Murphy (ankle), and Tom Barkhulzen (leg) are doubtful. However, midfielder Ben Whiteman and striker Ched Evans could be included in the squad to face their former club.

Last Six meetings

16.12.2017 – Preston North End 1-0 Sheffield United (Championship)
27.01.2018 – Sheffield United 1-0 Preston North End (FA Cup Rd4)
28.04.2018 – Sheffield United 0-1 Preston North End (Championship)
22.09.2018 – Sheffield United 3-2 Preston North End (Championship)
06.04.2019 – Preston North End 0-1 Sheffield United (Championship)
11.09.2021 – Sheffield United 2-2 Preston North End (Championship)

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