Sheffield United will be looking for maximum points as they continue their hunt to cement a top six-finish with just six matches remaining of the regular campaign remaining, whilst the visitors, AFC Bournemouth, will be looking to follow Fulham to the Premier League with the games remaining and coming thick and fast.
United kept up their excellent home form with a 1-0 victory over promotion rivals Queens Park Rangers last Tuesday night via Oli Norwood’s ninth-minute strike from a corner. It was the midfielders’ first goal for the Blades since January 2020, when he netted in an FA Cup win at Millwall. The Blades are unbeaten at home since they last lost to Blackpool on 30th October – eleven games ago!
The victory, married by other results in the week, pushed United into the sixth position in the table with six matches remaining., however, they will host second-placed Bournemouth with a string of injuries. The Blades are without defenders; Chris Basham (MCL), Charlie Goode (knee), Jayden Bogle (knee), Jack O’Connell (knee), as well as forwards Rhian Brewster (hamstring) and former Cherries striker David McGoldrick (thigh). McGoldrick scored 6 goals in 12 appearances for the Cherries during a three-month loan spell from parent club Southampton, after joining in February 2007.
Sheffield United will be looking to exact revenge on their opposition this weekend after they (unfairly) were beaten 2-1 in the reserve fixture at the Vitality Stadium on 2nd October 2021. Following a goalless first half, United took the lead on 56 minutes through Morgan Gibbs-White. The lead didn’t last long as the hosts levelled via the penalty spot on 62 minutes through Dominic Solanke before Philip Billing slotted home the match-winner three minutes later. Replays suggest that Solanke was outside the box when he was tripped by Enda Stevens, with the referee awarding a penalty.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vBFqm8c2X4
The Cherries come into this fixture having suffered their first league defeat in six games following a 2-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night. With two games in hand (and a six-point advantage over the third-place), Scott Parker’s side should be on course to following Fulham into the Premier League after a two-year absence.
The south coast side travels to Bramall Lane without five players who are all absent through injury or illness. They will be without forwards; Kieffer Moore (broken foot) and Junior Stanislas (hamstring), as well as defender Leif Davis (hip) and midfielders Robert Brady (calf), and formerly with Sheffield United, David Brooks (cancer), whom we wish well on the road to recovery.
Meanwhile, included in the travelling squad is likely to be former Blades defender Gary Cahill, who is likely to be included on the substitute’s bench. Cahill, 36 spent time at Bramall Lane on loan from Aston Villa during Bryan Robson’s tenure as a manager. He joined in September 2007, making his debut in a 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace, and returned to Villa Park in mid-January after making 16 appearances and scoring twice, for the Blades.
Last Six Meetings
07.04.2012 – Sheffield United 2-1 AFC Bournemouth (League One)
01.09.2012 – Sheffield United 5-3 AFC Bournemouth (League One)
23.02.2013 – AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Sheffield United (League One)
10.08.2019 – AFC Bournemouth 1-1 Sheffield United (Premier League)
09.02.2020 – Sheffield United 2-1 AFC Bournemouth (Premier League)
02.10.2021 – AFC Bournemouth 2-1 Sheffield United (Championship)