Blades News

Can Wilder Outsmart The Special One?

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Sheffield United look to forge the mother of all ‘Great Escapes’ when they entertain Tottenham Hotspur at Bramall Lane tomorrow (kick-off: 14:05).

They did it, they finally did it! After dumping Bristol Rovers (3-2), out of the FA Cup last Saturday and followed this up with their first Premier League victory of the season at home to Newcastle United last Tuesday night (12th January). Against a defensive Magpies, the opposition was reduced to ten men on 42 minutes after Ryan Fraser was brandished his second booking, and despite having the extra man advantage and the majority of the possession (66%), they failed to penetrate their defence. That was, until, on 73 minutes, referee Andy Medley, with the aid of VAR, gave a controversial penalty for handball by Federico Fernandez following a duel in the box with Billy Sharp. Skipper Sharp stepped up and sent the keeper, Karl Darlow, the wrong way.

Blades boss Chris Wilder has a concerning list of injuries ahead of tomorrow’s fixture. They are without defenders Jack Robinson (unknown), and Jack O’Connell (knee), through injury. The latter has undergone surgery and is likely to start training again soon with no date for a return set as of yet. The Blades are also without midfielder Sander Berge, who is sidelined with a thigh injury he sustained in the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on 17 December and is expected to be sidelined for up to three months. Meanwhile, Enda Stevens, George Baldock, and Oliver McBurnie are sidelined with no return date set.

Blades boss Chris Wilder is expected to field the same starting eleven which beat Newcastle five days ago.

WHAT’S THE SCORE?
Think you can predict the outcome of this fixture. Then why not join the Vital Blades Prediction League and cast your opinion on the game?

Fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur travel to Bramall Lane looking to extend their unbeaten run of three games. They have lost just three matches this season to; Everton (opening day), Liverpool, and Leicester City. They were meant to face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday night, days after beating non-league minnows Marine 5-0 in the FA Cup, but after several Villa players tested positive for Coronavirus the match was postponed. Bizarrely, instead, it was agreed that Spurs would face Fulham instead. In the FA Cup, they will travel to Wycombe in round four.

 

The two sides shared the spoils in the ‘London Derby’ as Fulham cancelled out Harry Kane’s 24th-minute opener in the second half to draw 1-1. The England striker’s diving head from Sergio Reguilón’s timely cross was enough to take the lead. Tottenham was guilty in failing to extend their lead as Son Heung-min twice missed opportunities to get onto the score-sheet. Firstly, before Kane. On 74 minutes, Ivan Cavaleiro finished off Ademola Lookman’s excellent cross, heading home past keeper Hugo Lloris.

It was suggested that Wales International Gareth Bale, currently on loan from Real Madrid, may start against the Cottages, however, he did not and may get a starting place against the Blades tomorrow, making his first league appearance since they lost 2-0 at home to Leicester on 20th December. Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is without Giovani Lo Celso (thigh), and Steven Bergwijn (knock), who are both ruled out through injury.

Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last three Premier League outings against Tottenham. Tomorrow’s meeting will be the first season between the two clubs. The Blades have yet to lose a Premier League match at home to Spurs, the last time they lost a league encounter at Bramall Lane was on 6th December 1975, here is hoping that they fail to break their duck on this occasion. Last season, United went undefeated against Hotspur, controversially drawing 1-1 at their new White Hart Lane stadium before winning 3-1 at Bramall Lane during project restart, with goals from Sander Berge, Lys Mousset and Oli McBurnie. Previous to that the Blades had beaten Tottenham in their previous Premier League campaign (2006-07), having won 2-1 at the Lane, though they had lost 0-2 earlier in the season.

Match Officials

Referee: Andre Marriner.
Assistants: Richard West, Mark Scholes.
Fourth official: Robert Jones.
VAR: Michael Oliver. Assistant
VAR: 
Andy Halliday.

Past Premier League Results… vs. Tottenham Hotspur

1992/93 – Bramall Lane (W 6-0), White Hart Lane (L 0-2)
1993/94 – Bramall Lane (D 2-2), White Hart Lane (D 2-2)
2006/07 – Bramall Lane (W 2-1), White Hart Lane (L 0-2)
2019/20 – Bramall Lane (W 3-1), New White Hart Lane (D 1-1)

 

Last Time
Sheffield United  3-1 Tottenham Hotspur– 03.07.2020 – Premier League

Forthcoming Blades Fixtures;

*All fixtures are subject to change

23 Jan – Plymouth Argyle (h) – 15:00 – FAC4
27 Jan – Manchester United (a) – 20:15
30 Jan – Manchester City (a) – 15:00
02 Feb – West Bromwich Albion (h)  – 19:45
06 Feb – Chelsea (h) – 15:00
13 Feb – West Ham United (a) – 15:00
20 Feb – Fulham (a) – 15:00
27 Feb – Liverpool (h) – 15:00
06 Mar – Southampton  (h) – 15:00
13 Mar – Leicester City (a) – 15:00
20 Mar– Aston Villa (h) – 15:00
03 Apr – Leeds United (a) – 15:00
10 Apr – Arsenal (h) – 15:00
17 Apr – Wolverhampton Wanderers (a) – 15:00
24 Apr – Brighton & Hove Albion (h) – 15:00
01 May – Tottenham Hotspur (a) – 15:00
08 May – Crystal Palace (h) – 15:00
11 May – Everton (a) – 19:45
15 May – Newcastle United (a) – 15:00
23 May – Burnley (h) – 16:00

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