United take on Blackpool at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon, in what will be a tough test against a Michael Appleton side that has already beaten some good teams this season.
Blackpool has provided a tough test for some of the Championship’s better teams already this season. Michael Appleton’s side has beaten: Reading 1-0 (5th), QPR 1-0 (3rd) and more recently Watford 3-1. They have also earned a point against 4th place Burnley in a 3-3 draw. They have however lost to 2nd place Norwich City via a narrow 1-0 scoreline.
Speaking ahead of the game, Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom told inews about how he wants his Sheffield United team to play:
“I want to be a front-foot team, to be aggressive. I can’t accept dropping off and sitting back – I just don’t like it. I like the challenge of taking risks by being intense, pushing at an opponent”
A front-foot team is exactly what the Blades have been this season, even with an injury-riddled squad. United have scored 21 goals which is the second-largest in the division. Additionally, they have created the second-largest number of chances in the Championship with 27.
Sheffield United have been aggressive too, which is what Paul Heckingbottom demands from his team, averaging the most tackles per game in the league with 19.2 tackles per game. Subsequently, United have picked up the fourth most bookings thus far with 30.