Football returns to stadiums following a fortnight’s absence due to international break. The Championship sees Sheffield United travel to Stoke City tomorrow for the 15:00 pm kick-off. Can the Blades get back to winning ways on the road?
Before the international break, Stoke overcame a nine-match run without a victory by beating Millwall by two goals to nil through goals from Jacob Brown on 19 minutes, and an own goal from George Saville on 70 minutes. The Lions had an opportunity to reduce the arrears but Jed Wallace saw his penalty saved on 76 minutes to stop Stoke’s rot and fire them to fifteenth in the Championship table.
The last time that these two met ended in a 2-1 victory at home on 16th October, which took the Blades’ tally to four consecutive home league matches unbeaten. After a goalless first half, the Blades had to come from behind after Jacob Brown had put the visitors ahead on 55 minutes.
It was considered a divine intervention from then Blades boss Slavisia Jokanovic but before United levelling the game, the Serbian made two, what would prove to be, influential substitutions with the inclusion of strikers Lys Mousset, and David McGoldrick, as the pair wrapped the game up for the hosts with quickfire goals. Firstly, Mousset timed his run to finish McGoldrick’s pass on 80 minutes, and three minutes later, the latter was on the end of Enda Stevens ball into the box to stab home in front of a jubilant Kop.
Stoke City boss Michael O’Neill is likely to be without defender Harry Souttar (ACL), and forward Nick Powell (muscle injury), ahead of their clash with the Blades this weekend.
The Potters are also likely to field Phil Jagielka, 39 to face his former club. The former England defender has enjoyed two spells at Bramall Lane. After coming through the youth ranks, he made his Blades’ debut as a second-half substitute in a 2-2 draw with Swindon Town on 7th May 2000 – the final day of the season. He became an influential player and was part of an epic 2002-03 squad that reached the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup – respectively losing to Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as losing the 2003 Play-Off Final at the Millennium Stadium 3-0 to Wolves. He was also part of the 2005-06 squad which won promotion to the Premier League, and the side which was relegated twelve months later. In July 2007 he made a £4million move to Everton where he played 384 times, scoring 19 goals for the Toffees. In 2009 Everton reached the FA Cup Final, which Jagielka missed due to injury. During his time with the Goodison Park club, he was capped 40 times and scored three goals. In July 2019 he left Everton and re-joined the Blades upon their promotion to the Premier League. He remained at United for two seasons where, again, United were relegated from the top flight. During his time at United, he made 309 appearances and scored 22 goals. After leaving the S2 club he joined Derby County on a free transfer before joining Stoke City in January 2022.
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)