Sheffield United will be eager to complete a league double over Peterborough United this evening when they travel to London Road tonight (kick-off; 5:30 PM), in a bid to reach the Play-Offs come May.
The Blades hit a stumbling block as we entered 2022 following a defeat at Derby County, and wasted a golden opportunity for maximum points at Preston, drawing 2-2 after leading by two goals. However, they made amends in their first home fixture since 28th November last weekend after beating Luton Town 2-0. The game was all-square at the break with the game coming alive in the second 45 minutes. Rhian Brewster netted his fourth goal of the season 48 minutes after he latched onto a Jayden Bogle ball in the box it pivot and smash home. Three minutes later the Blades had doubled their lead following Jack Robinson’s finish from a corner. On 61 minutes the game turned sour for the visitors after Reece Burke hauled down a runaway Brewster outside the box. Being the last man, he was dismissed for his troubles.
Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom is expected to be without midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, and defender Jack O’Connell (both knee), through injury.
Sheffield United was victorious when these two sides met earlier in the season at Bramall Lane. The Blades recorded their first league victory of the campaign and under new boss Slavisa Jokanovic when United hosted Peterborough United on 11th September. United had handed debuts to Academy starlet Iliman Ndiaye, and new season-long loan signing from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Morgan Gibbs-White. The pair were an instant hit as United demolished the Posh by six goals to two to lift United out of the relegation zone.
Despite the eight-goal thriller, the score was locked 1-1 at half-time after Ndiaye had netted the opener on 14 minutes, curling home Gibbs-White pass. The visitors levelled on 40 minutes after Jack Marriott capitalised on a defensive error from Rhys Norrington-Davies.
The second-half saw United run away with the game. John Fleck capitalised on a defensive error on 51 minutes to guide the hosts back into the lead before Billy Sharp teed up Ben Osborn two minutes later to make it three. There were two more quick-fire goals as Gibbs-White rocket home a shot at a tight angle on 68 minutes and Ndiaye headed home two minutes later for 5-1.
With eleven minutes remaining, Peterborough netted a consolation from the penalty spot through Jonson Clarke-Harris, before Osborn added the sixth in stoppage-time.
Having won promotion from League One last summer after finishing second behind Champions Hull City, the Posh could be heading on their way back down. They currently lay in the bottom three, with Derby County, and Barnsley below them in the table. They are two points behind the safety zone, and with plenty of games remaining, relegation at this point is not a certainty.
They stopped the rot of three consecutive league defeats following a dramatic 2-2 draw at Birmingham City last Tuesday night. Goals from Jack Marriott on 16 minutes and Jonson Clarke-Harris after 67 minutes, via the penalty spot, looked set to gift the visitors all three points. However, a turn-around in the dying embers of the game saw victory swept from under their feet. Gary Gardener netted what looked a consolation on 85 minutes, and three minutes later Scott Hogan grabbed the leveller. The last time that Peterborough tasted a league victory was at home to Millwall (2-1), on 11th December.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson will be without midfielder Dan Bulter (ligament injury), who is sidelined for the remainder of the season, whilst midfielder Joel Randall (hamstring) is also sidelined through injury. Meanwhile forward, Idris Kanu joined Northampton Town on loan two days ago.
Last Six Meetings
03.03.2015 – Sheffield United 1-2 Peterborough United (League One)
18.08.2015 – Peterborough United 1-3 Sheffield United (League One)
02.01.2016 – Sheffield United 2-3 Peterborough United (League One)
17.09.2016 – Sheffield United 1-0 Peterborough United (League One)
11.02.2017 – Peterborough United 0-1 Sheffield United (League One)
11.09.2021 – Sheffield United 6-2 Peterborough United (Championship)