MATCH THRE: " SHEFFIELD UNITED v CARDIFF CITY " MATCH THREAD

SHEFFIELD UNITED v CARDIFF CITY
Saturday 23rd April, 3pm
Sky Bet Championship
Bramall Lane 


PAY ON THE DAY:


560 tickets sold by Cardiff City


Cardiff City: Phillips; Drameh, Nelson, Denham, Bagan; Wintle, Ralls, Doyle; Watters, Hugill.

Subs: Luthra, McGuinness, Flint, Vaulks, Colwill, Ikpeazu, Harris.




TEAM NEWS:


Alfie Doughty returned 20/04/2022 to Stoke City

Max Watters fully fit.


Joe Ralls is due to return to the action.


Isaak Davies picked up a niggle in training this week and has been ruled out for this week.


Sam Bowen is out for the remainder of the season.


Sean Morrison and Isaak Vassell long term injuries.







Can I stream or watch the match on TV?

Not on TV in the UK.

The Opposition's Manager - Paul Heckingbottom

Heckingbottom was appointed in November.

He has done a good job this season, with the Blades currently occupying a play-off place.

Opposition Dangerous Players

Morgan Gibbs-White has ten goals and seven assists in the league this season.

Previous Meeting 

Sheffield United beat us 3-2 in December

Team News - Predicted Line-Ups

Sheffield United: Foderingham, Baldock, Basham, Egan, Robinson, Stevens, Berge, Fleck, Norwood, Ndiaye, Gibbs-White

Cardiff City: Phillips, Drameh, Ng, Nelson, Bagan, Doughty, Vaulks, Wintle, Doyle, Colwill, Hugill

Form - Last Three Competitive Games

Bristol City 1-1 Sheffield United
Sheffield United 1-2 Reading
Sheffield United 0-0 AFC Bournemouth

Cardiff City 0-1 Luton Town
Hull City 2-1 Cardiff City
Reading 1-2 Cardiff City

Match Odds

Sheffield United - 3/5
Cardiff City - 5/1
Draw - 14/5

Predictions

Post your predictions below 

Alfie Doughty returned 20/04/2022 to Stoke City

UPDATED:

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Sam Bowen ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Bowen was being released to Newport County in January just gone, but picked up an injury.

What happens this summer, depends on his recovery.

Joe Ralls is due to return to the action.

Isaak Davies picked up a niggle in training this week and has been ruled out for this week.

SHEFFIELD UNITED:

Heckingbottom is hopeful Sharp will celebrate his contract extension with a return from injury in time to face the Bluebirds. George Baldock will also be in the selection mix. The Blades boss is without Oli McBurnie (for the rest of the season), David McGoldrick, Rhian Brewster, Jack O'Connell and Charlie Goode due to injury.

What have the managers said?





Heckingbottom, speaking on rival teams in play-off places, said: “Everyone is doing the same: winning and losing, the only thing for us is if we win our games, we are there one game at a time up against a Cardiff team who can be dangerous they are playing with a freedom. This stage of the season is really strange.”

On Cardiff, he added: “They have changed the way they play. They are still a direct threat and tough, scored the most headed goals by a long, long way. Still got that in the team but picked a lot more players with energy around that and they are trying to play a bit more football and in that respect really dangerous because they are playing with a freedom.”






Sean Morison said: “We are not on a comparison with Sheffield United - they have players on 40 grand a week! We have to concentrate on ourselves and how we are going to do it. We are wholly focused on ourselves and the best plan going forward.

“The atmosphere will be fantastic. It’s a game you should be thoroughly looking forward to. If you don’t turn up you’ll get turned over. They are a really good team and you have to enjoy that pressure. We want to win the game and I’ll go there and pick the team best suited for that game."

What are the latest betting odds?





Sheffield Utd – 4/7

Draw – 11/4

Cardiff City – 5/1

Odds courtesy of PaddyPower and correct at time of publishing.

Match facts:



Sheffield United are looking to complete a league double over Cardiff City for the first time since the 1984-85 season.



Cardiff City are unbeaten in six away league matches against Sheffield United (W2 D4) since a 2-1 defeat in December 2004.



Sheffield United lost 2-1 in their last home league match against Reading; they have never lost consecutive home games under




Paul Heckingbottom, who last suffered consecutive home Football League defeats in March 2018 as Leeds United manager.



Cardiff City have lost three of their last four league games (W1), as many as in their previous 12 Championship games combined.



Only Billy Sharp (14) has scored more Championship goals for Sheffield United this season than Morgan Gibbs-White (10), while no player has more assists than Gibbs-White (7, level also with Sharp).

What have the managers said?





Heckingbottom, speaking on rival teams in play-off places, said: “Everyone is doing the same: winning and losing, the only thing for us is if we win our games, we are there one game at a time up against a Cardiff team who can be dangerous they are playing with a freedom. This stage of the season is really strange.”

On Cardiff, he added: “They have changed the way they play. They are still a direct threat and tough, scored the most headed goals by a long, long way. Still got that in the team but picked a lot more players with energy around that and they are trying to play a bit more football and in that respect really dangerous because they are playing with a freedom.”






Sean Morison said: “We are not on a comparison with Sheffield United - they have players on 40 grand a week! We have to concentrate on ourselves and how we are going to do it. We are wholly focused on ourselves and the best plan going forward.

“The atmosphere will be fantastic. It’s a game you should be thoroughly looking forward to. If you don’t turn up you’ll get turned over. They are a really good team and you have to enjoy that pressure. We want to win the game and I’ll go there and pick the team best suited for that game."

I think you mean Steve Morison not Sean

560 tickets now sold for Sheffield United away.


125 tickets sold for Boro away

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

BLUEBIRDS

Close! First chance of the game and it's a good one. Drameh does well to whip in a dangerous cross and Hugill slides in, four yards from goal, but just cannot make contact and Foderingham collects.

Not so good the second time from Drameh, who over-hits a cross and it's a Blades throw-in. They work the ball up the right but the ball finds its way at Dillon Phillips' feet.

Massive chance and it should be a goal! Denham brings the ball out of defence and fizzes a ball into Hugill on halfway. The striker pings a first-time pass off to Watters who embarks on a mazy run.


Watters does well to skin the final man and has just Foderingham to beat, but side-foots it straight at him! Hmmmm Poor finish

A positive start from Cardiff. Blades haven't found their rhythm as yet and the visitors are doing well to disrupt things.

WHAT A WASTE


Another big opportunitiy missed!

Foderingham with an awful pass out straight to Watters. He plays it inside to Drameh near the penalty spot, but the right-back just can't get it under control and the attack fizzles out. One of them had to get a shot off, there.

Basham with a dangerous cross, which Ng has to head away from Ndiaye's head.

The 1st ten minutes sum up citys season perfectly! Should be 2 up but failed to score just like lot of games this season....

Great save from Phillips after a thrilling counter from Sheffield United. Gibbs-White is tackled by Nelson and it bobbles towards Ben Osborn, who cracks one first time on the half volley from 20 yards. Phillips springs to his left and palms it away from danger.

The 1st ten minutes sum up citys season perfectly! Should be 2 up but failed to score just like lot of games this season....

Yep, Blades look nervous and have been let off here.

Sheffield United in control now

Watters' cross is not dealt with by Foderingham and it falls to Bagan on the angle, but he can't get a decent enough strike on it to trouble the Blades goal.

Bagan never handled it well

Flags up No goal Sheff United

Another fantastic Phillips save. Gibbs-White with a wonderful dinked pass over Cardiff's defence and Sander Berge timed his run excellently. He takes a touch before trying to poke home, but Phillips comes out confidently and saves well.

The 1st ten minutes sum up citys season perfectly! Should be 2 up but failed to score just like lot of games this season....

Yep, Blades look nervous and have been let off here.

Extremely nervous! But let's hope we dont do same for them undoubtedly they'll score....

Cardiff breakaway through Ralls and then Drameh, who wins the Bluebirds a corner.

Cardiff's corner comes to nothing. Bagan swings in a cross from the far side but it's deflected into the keeper's hands.