Preview: Sheffield United vs. Blackpool - prediction, team news, lineups

Sheffield United and Blackpool will be looking to build on their Championship victories last weekend with another three points, when they do battle at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon.

Just three points separate these two sides in the table, and a victory for either team could see them finish gameweek 15 inside the top half.

Match preview

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Sheffield United bounced back from defeat at home against Millwall with a victory in the South Yorkshire derby against Barnsley, winning 3-2 at Oakwell last weekend.

A quickfire double from Lys Mousset shortly after half time and a Ben Osborn strike in the 72nd minute gave the visitors a comfortable 3-0 advantage. The Tykes were able to pull two goals back through Devante Cole and Aaron Leya Iseka to make it a nervy final few minutes for the visitors, however they eventually held on for all three points.

Early-season scares of successive relegations have seemingly disappeared as Slavisa Jokanovic's side have climbed up to 14th in the Championship standings, nine points clear of the bottom three.

Sheffield United now turn their attention to Saturday's clash with newly-promoted Blackpool, who they are unbeaten against in each of their last 10 matches across all competitions on home soil.

Since failing to score on the opening day of the season against Birmingham, the Blades have found the net 13 times in their next six encounters at Bramall Lane, the most of any side currently in the bottom half of the table.

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Blackpool's charge up the Championship table continued last weekend, when they came from two goals down to secure an impressive 3-2 victory against Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

First-half strikes from Scott Dann and Tom Dele-Bashiru seemingly put the hosts in control, however Owen Dale pulled one back for the visitors in the 69th minute, to begin the Tangerines' revival, before Jerry Yates equalised just four minutes later.

Blackpool were then awarded a penalty with five minutes left, which Yates converted to complete a dramatic comeback and secure their first win away against Reading since 1980.

After failing to win any of their opening five matches in the second tier, Neil Critchley's side have since won six of their last nine Championship encounters, with their most recent three points pushing them into the top half of the table.

The Tangerines are now one of seven teams with 21 points on the board from 14 league games and are only behind fifth-placed Luton Town and sixth-placed Middlesbrough on goal difference.

Blackpool's impressive run, however, may be at risk of being derailed slightly this weekend, as they lock horns with a Sheffield United outfit who they have beaten just twice in their last 18 meetings – both of these victories were interestingly in October, back in 1980 and 2009.

Team News

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Sheffield United will be without Jack O'Connell (knee), Sander Berge (hamstring), Rhys Norrington-Davies (muscle), Oliver Burke (leg) and Luke Freeman (leg) due to injury.

Morgan Gibbs-White is back from suspension and will be in contention to start, which could see Oli McBurnie drop to the bench.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee could play in an advanced midfield role alongside Iliman Ndiaye and Osborn, supporting lone striker Mousset, who has scored three goals in his last two league games.

As for Blackpool, Kevin Stewart and Shayne Lavery are ruled out with hamstring injuries, while Reece James and CJ Hamilton and unavailable with foot problems.

Grant Ward (Achilles), Chris Maxwell (muscle) and Matty Virtue (knee) are three more players who will not make the trip to Bramall Lane due to injury.

Luke Garbutt and Sonny Carey could both come back into Critchley's starting lineup after beginning on the bench against Preston.

After missing encounters against Nottingham Forest and Reading earlier this month due to illness, Dujon Sterling was an unused substitute last weekend and will be in contention to feature on Saturday.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Olsen; Baldock, Egan, Davies, Stevens; Norwood, Fleck; Gibbs-White, Ndiaye, Osborn; Mousset

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Lawrence-Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Keogh, Garbutt; Bowler, Wintle, Dougall, Anderson; Yates, Carey

We say: Sheffield United 2-2 Blackpool

Blackpool have failed to score in each of their last three meetings against Sheffield United, however they have found the net in 10 of their last 11 Championship games, so we fancy the Tangerines to score at Bramall Lane this weekend.

The Blades have performed well in front of goal in recent weeks, so they should also pose a threat in the final third. With little to separate these two sides, an entertaining score draw could be on the cards.