The Blades head to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow, to face Manchester City in decent form having won four out of the last five outings in all competitions, whilst, Manchester City will be looking to retain their place at the top of the Premier League table.
Sheffield United was tasked with a difficult away trip to Manchester United on Wednesday night and despite failing to name a full substitutes bench, due to injuries and suspensions, the Blades surprised the nation with a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford. United had taken the lead on 23 minutes when former Manchester City Academy player Kean Bryan headed home John Fleck’s corner. The hosts levelled soon afterwards through Anthony Martial but this was ruled out for a foul on keeper Aaron Ramsdale by former Blade Harry Maguire.
Maguire eventually levelled tea me in the second half when he headed home Alex Tellas corner on 64 minutes. Their lead last ten minutes when substitute Oli Burke had two attempts at goal, his second, after being supplied by John Lundstram cannoned offAxel Tuanzebe, with Red Devils keeper David Dea Gea unable to stop. Chris Wilder’s side kept their opposition at bay despite the hosts’ dominating possession for the large majority of the game.
The victory wasn’t enough to take United off the foot of the table, but it will help to give the team much-needed confidence.”It’s a long time to wait for a win at Old Trafford and it’s a special result, and a special performance,” said Blades boss Chris Wilder.
United are likely to field the same personnel which won at Old Trafford, except for John Egan who is available after completing a one-match ban, meaning they will still line-up in the same 5-3-2 formation but playing more defensive-minded, rather than offensive.
MANCHESTER CITY
The Citizens almost became victims of what would have been an unforgettable cup scalp had they lost at Cheltenham Town last weekend in the FA Cup round four. It almost became a reality when the Robins led by a single goal, but three City goals in the final five minutes paved away any possibility of embarrassment and set up a fifth-round tie at Swansea.
They come into this fixture after travelling to Blades next opponents, West Bromwich Albion last Tuesday evening, and swept their opponents away with ease, storming into a 4-0 lead at the break they added a further goal before the hour mark and returned from the Midlands with five goals without reply, all three points and a seat at England’s elite top table.
It is expected that Pep Guardiola will name a Manchester City side that will feature Gabriel Jesus, Aymeric Laporte, and former Blades defender Kyle Walker, as part of a system. However, they are likely to be with striker Sergio Aguero, who is self-isolating having been given a positive Covid-19 test. They are also without midfielder Kevin De Bruyne (though), and defender Nathan Ake through injury.
Like the majority of Premier League clubs, Manchester City have already laid victory over Sheffield United this season when former Blade Kyle Walker netted the games’ only goal as City walked away from Bramall Lane with a victory on 30th October. Manchester City has yet to lose a Premier League fixture against the Blades in 9 meetings they have played out but have drawn 4 of those games.
The last time the Blades claimed victory over the blue half of Manchester in the league came on 22nd January 2000, in Davison One, when Michael Brown, formerly with City, struck the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory. Victories for Sheffield United over Manchester City have been few and far between. Since Brown’s strike, United did claim victory under the leadership of Bryan Robson, when balloons made the headline after they assisted in United scoring twice against City in an FA Cup tie at Bramall Lane on 27th January 2008. Two goals in the first 24 minutes from Jonathan Stead and Luton Shelton had put the Blades into a two-goal lead. Daniel Sturridge scored his first-ever professional goal shortly after the break but United clung onto a 2-1 victory.
Past Premier League Results… vs. Manchester City
1992/93 – Bramall Lane (D 1-1), Maine Road (L0-2)
1993/94 – Bramall Lane (D 1-1), Maine Road (D0-0)
2006/07 – Bramall Lane (L0-1), Etihad Stadium (D0-0)
2019/20 – Bramall Lane (L0-1), Etihad Stadium (L0-2)
2020/21 – Bramall Lane (L 0-1)
Last Time
Sheffield United 0-1 Manchester City – 30.10.2020 – Premier League
Forthcoming Blades Fixtures;
*All fixtures are subject to change
02 Feb – West Bromwich Albion (h) – 18:00
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
19 Dec – Brighton & Hove Albion (a) 15:00
26 Dec – Everton (h) 15:00
28 Dec – Burnley (a) 15:00