SkyBet Championship league leaders Sheffield United will make the trip across to Humberside tomorrow afternoon to face a Hull City side who are chasing a spot in the top six, and without any new injuries or exits, the Blades expect to remain unchanged.
Sheffield United have begun the season brightly and have excelled at Bramall Lane, winning all of their four home games and equalling their record set at the beginning of the 2005-06 campaign, which ended in promotion. However, their away form is disappointing and have yet to win on the road this campaign. There last victory away from Bramall Lane (in all competitions), came in the Play-Off semi-final second leg, 2-1 victory at Nottingham Forest last May.
United will be looking to repeat the 3-1 victory they claimed over Hull City in last season’s Championship fixture at the KCOM, although the pair played out a disappointing 0-0 draw at Bramall Lane, which the Tigers would have been content at earning a point on the road.
The Blades supporters are joyous that a nervy transfer deadline day resulted in no first-team players exiting Bramall Lane, although there were fears that both John Egan and Sander Berge could have left to join Leeds United and Belgian side Club Brugge respectively. Had the Norwegian midfielder left the club, strong rumours suggest that the Blades would have snapped up CF Montreal midfielder Ismael Kone in his place.
There were, however, two exits from the S2 club as striker Will Osula joined League One outfit Derby County on a seasons long loan as the Rams aim to bounce back at the first attempt, and Polish defender Kacper Lopata joined National League side Southend United in a permanent deal.
Injuries & Suspensions
German-born stopper Jordan Amissah is likely to again star on the substitutes bench owing to a knee injury to Welsh international keeper, Adam Davies. The Blades will again 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. Paul Heckingbottom is also without defenders; Ciaran Clark (muscle injury), Jayden Bogle, Jack O’Connell, and Jack Robison (all knee), as well as Enda Stevens (knock). Skipper Billy Sharp (sprained ankle) is also absent through injury.
Last Six Meetings
23.02.2018 – Hull City 1-0 Sheffield United (Championship)
14.08.2018 – Sheffield United 1-1 Hull City* (League Cup Rd1)
06.10.2018 – Sheffield United 1-0 Hull City (Championship)
22.04.2019 – Hull City 0-3 Sheffield United (Championship)
18.09.2021 – Hull City 1-3 Sheffield United (Championship)
15.02.2022 – Sheffield United 0-0 Hull City (Championship)
*lost 5-4 on penalties