Sheffield United vs Brighton and Hove Albion
Date: 22/02/2020
Venue: Bramall Lane
K/O: 15:00
Referee: Graham Scott
The Seagulls will look to dent Sheffield United’s Champions League qualification hopes this weekend as the Blades will be desperate for another three points.
After going behind to a Callum Wilson goal, the Blades fought back against the Cherries to win 2-1 at Bramall Lane last week. Wilder’s side produced a resilient second-half performance and continued their bid for a top-six finish. John Lundstram came off the bench and scored a late 84th-minute winner which cemented their position above Manchester United and Wolves in sixth place.
Brighton had a much less memorable game and drew 1-1 to Watford. For much of the game, it looked as if Watford were going to beat the Seagulls, but a second-half own goal from Adrian Mariappa levelled the scores and share of the points.
After Manchester City’s two-year UEFA ban was handed out last week, it looks likely that fifth place will be enough to secure Champions League qualification and with only 12 games left in the season, Wilder’s men are sixth in the table and are chasing that elusive fifth spot.
Conversely, Brighton are only three points above the first relegation spot and a loss on Saturday would draw them even closer to the drop zone. Bournemouth and Aston Villa are between them and the bottom three, but only two points separate the three sides at the bottom of the league – fine margins.
Brighton aren’t on the best run of form and have only one win in seven games, so this week poses a big chance for the Seagulls to get themselves back on track as they look to avoid relegation. Potter’s men have been lacking in defensive stability all season and have only five clean sheets. It’s also fair to say that the Blades don’t offer the most threat in the league, but the problems will come when Brighton try to break down Sheffield United, who have been rock solid all season.
In contrast, the Blades have kept nine clean sheets so far and have conceded the second-lowest amount of goals in the league with just 24 – only Liverpool have done better with 15. Brighton will hope that Neal Maupay will have his shooting boots on this weekend, but the French striker has failed to score in nine games.
Maupay did start the season well and has seven goals and two assists to his name but they have dried up in recent weeks. Leandro Trossard and Pascal Groß do at times provide some attacking impetus and they will also need to be on the top of their games if they are to breakdown the Blades defensive barricade.
Team News
Sheffield United
Chris Wilder said in his pre-match press conference that he has an injury-free squad for this weekend’s clash. Wilder’s only problems will be choosing who starts. John Lundstram’s goal off the bench against Bournemouth puts him in contention to regain his place in the midfield.
This season we have seen how Wilder normally operates by avoiding unenforced changes meaning Lundstram might well force his way back into the starting XI. Dean Henderson, Oliver Norwood, John Fleck, the three centre-halves and the two wing-backs have started every league game in which they have been available for this season.
His main dilemma, as usual, will be who to start up front. Mousset and McGoldrick are now in contention to start after returning from injury. Sharp and McBurnie have started the last three league matches together and have done quite well in that time. Though Wilder will be likely rotate the pair.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Graham Potter’s only major injury concern will be Dale Stephens who missed last week’s clash against Watford with a hamstring injury. Stephens has only missed three games this season, so he will be missed in the midfield this weekend. Either Alireza Jahanbakhsh or Steven Alzate could be gifted a rare start in the middle as a replacement for Stephens if Potter sticks with the same formation.
Izquierdo remains a long-term absentee and won’t feature this weekend. Glenn Murry is likely to get the nod over Neal Maupay this weekend after playing well against Watford.
Predicted Starting XIs
Sheffield United (3-5-2): Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens; McBurnie, Sharp
Brighton and Hove Albion (4-3-3): Mat Ryan; Alzate, Webster, Dunk, Burn; Pröpper, Stephens, Mooy; Groß, Murray, Trossard
Score Prediction: Sheffield United 2-1 Brighton and Hove Albion
The Blades have been fantastic this season and they are beginning to edge closer to what would be a monumental return to the Premier League. With the idea of European football being thrown around, this will only spur and motivate Wilder’s men further, and make them even tougher to face. Brighton haven’t been great all season and really need to get back to winning ways. I think this weekend will be a tough ask for them at Bramall Lane.
