Sheffield United, perhaps, face their toughest test of the season thus far when they entertain top-of-the-table Reading FC tonight at Bramall Lane (kick-off: 7.45 PM), in the SkyBet Championship clash.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side comes into this fixture four league matches unbeaten having earned a 1-1 draw at Luton Town last Friday night after Oli McBurnie netted his first league goal in 43 games, volleying home John Egan’s flick-on after Carlton Morris had headed the hosts in front after ten minutes.
The Blades will be without midfielder John Fleck, who sustained a fractured leg in the 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers ten days ago and is expected to be side-lined for several months.
Sheffield United saw their magnificent run of twelve consecutive home matches unbeaten destroyed last Good Friday after Reading walked away with a 2-1 victory, when the two sides last met on 15th April 2022. The Blades were unravelled on 18 minutes through former Sheffield Wednesday striker, Lucas Joao’s superb finish past Wes Foderingham and had almost doubled their lead moments later but the striker struck the post from close range. United struggled to make ends meet in the final third until 89 minutes when they registered their first shot on target from John Egan’s glancing header. However, a minute later the score was level after the ball was fed to Illiman Ndiaye and the youngster coolly finished from close range. The lead lasted two minutes as a Reading free kick evaded the Blades defence allowing Tom McIntyre to prod home.
https://youtu.be/9-atxw89o1I
Reading have been somewhat of a surprise package in the infancy stages of the 2022-23 Championship campaign and have established themselves as league leaders after winning their last three league outings, whilst keeping a clean sheet along the way. They began the season with a 1-0 loss at Blackpool before winning 2-1 at home to Cardiff City. Defeat prevailed again, this time at Rotherham United (4-0), before claiming triple victories over Blackburn Rovers (3-0), Middlesbrough, and Millwall (both 1-0).
Royals boss Paul Ince is expected to field a similar side which won at the Den last weekend. However, they are expected to be without defenders; Scott Dann (calf), and Liam Moore (knee), midfielder Ovie Ejaria (hamstring), and strikers Femi Azeez (hamstring), and Yakou Meite (calf) – all are absent through injury.
Last Six Meetings
27.02.2018 – Reading 1-3 Sheffield United (Championship)
08.12.2018 – Reading 0-2 Sheffield United (Championship)
16.02.2019 – Sheffield United 4-0 Reading (Championship)
03.03.2020 – Reading 1-2 Sheffield United – aet (FA Cup Round 5)
23.11.2021 – Reading 0-1 Sheffield United (Championship)
15.04.2022 – Sheffield United 1-2 Reading (Championship)