Sheffield United will be looking to continue their decent record at the Bet365 Stadium when they take on Stoke City this weekend following a fortnight’s rest due to the international break.
The last time that the Blades lost in the Potteries was on 12th March 2005, when Stoke secured a 2-0 victory through a Gifton Noel-Williams brace. Since then United have played three times, with the Blades winning once and drawing twice.
Sheffield United come into this fixture after the international break in a strong position after beating local rivals Barnsley 2-0 in the South Yorkshire Derby. Following a lethargic first half that saw United struggle to create meaningful chances. The game kicked-started for the hosts in the second half and took the lead through a swift free-kick on 54 minutes, which resulted in Conor Hourihane whipping the ball into the box and Sander Berge sliding home the ball. The victory was complete on 76 minutes after good industrial play from Morgan Gibbs-White and Oli McBurnie saw the latter scoop the ball over the defence for the former to neatly take control, rounded keeper Brad Collins and stabbed home into an empty net. The victory guided United into fifth after the weekend’s Championship fixtures and maintained an excellent home record.
The Blades haven’t lost at home since the end of October, but their away form needs improvement if United are to finish in a top-six position come May. The S2 club haven’t won on the road in their last five outings away from home. The last time they won away from Bramall Lane came on 4th February in a 2-1 victory at Birmingham City.
During the international break, the Blades bolstered their defensive options with the recruitment of Croatian international defender Filip Uremović, 25, who has recently been released from his contract at Russian club Rubin Kazan. He joins in a deal until the end of the season and may make his debut at the Bet365 Stadium this weekend.
Rhys Norrington-Davies and keeper Adam Davies are likely to be included in the Blades squad which travels to the Bet365 Stadium and could feature against their former club. Norrington-Davies, 22 made 20 appearances for the Potters, whilst on loan last season, where he scored once in a 2-0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers. He signed for Stoke in January 2021 until the conclusion of the season. Meanwhile, Davies, 29 made 41 appearances for Stoke before he joined Sheffield United in January 2022. He signed for Stoke in June 2019, after spending five years at Barnsley, where he made his debut in a 1-0 defeat at Brentford in the FA Cup in January 2020. The German-born Welsh international has yet to make his Blades debut.
United was boosted by the return of Enda Stevens, John Fleck, and Oli McBurnie in the victory over Barnsley but head to Stoke expecting to be without defenders; Ben Davies (calf), Chris Basham (MCL), Jayden Bogle (knee), George Baldock (knock), and Jack O’Connell (knee), as well as forwards Rhian Brewster (hamstring) and David McGoldrick (thigh).
United was boosted by the return of Enda Stevens, John Fleck, and Oli McBurnie in the victory over Barnsley but head to Stoke expecting to be without defenders; Ben Davies (calf), Chris Basham (MCL), Jayden Bogle (knee), George Baldock (knock), and Jack O’Connell (knee), as well as forwards Rhian Brewster (hamstring) and David McGoldrick (thigh).
Last Six Meetings
01.04.2006 – Stoke City 1-1 Sheffield United (Championship)
10.11.2007 – Stoke City 0-1 Sheffield United (Championship)
04.12.2007 – Sheffield United 0-3 Stoke City (Championship)
23.10.2018 – Sheffield United 1-1 Stoke City (Championship)
05.05.2019 – Stoke City 2-2 Sheffield United (Championship)
16.10.2021 – Sheffield United 2-1 Stoke City (Championship)