MX23RW : Saturday, April 9 17:50:04| >> :600:109854:109854:
[monks data]
Apr 9, 2022 at 12.45pm UK at Bramall Lane
Sheff Utd
0 - 0
Bournemouth

Stevens (24'), Fleck (35'), Egan (71')
FT

Billing (74'), Kelly (90+3')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Sheffield United and Bournemouth, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Championship playoff hopefuls Sheffield United host a Bournemouth side who are still in the hotseat for automatic promotion despite suffering defeat in midweek.

The Blades are currently sixth in the table and two points ahead of seventh-placed Middlesbrough, while the Cherries are second and six points clear of third-placed Huddersfield Town.


Match preview

Sheffield United's Oliver Norwood celebrates scoring their first goal with with teammates on April 5, 2022© Reuters

Oliver Norwood scored the only goal of the game as Sheffield United earned a vital 1-0 victory over playoff rivals Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night.

It was only a second win in five games for the Blades, who are now aiming to achieve back-to-back victories for the first time since February.

Since Paul Heckingbottom was appointed manager on November 25, no team in the Championship has picked up more points than Sheffield United (41).

The 44-year-old is also yet to lose a home game in charge, winning eight and drawing two of his 10 matches at Bramall Lane. The Blades have kept a clean sheet in eight of those.

After this fixture, the Yorkshire outfit have three consecutive matches against teams in the bottom eight so will be hoping to cement their playoff place.

Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 15, 2022© Reuters

Bournemouth conceded twice in the opening 12 minutes to lose 2-0 against West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday, their first defeat in six matches.

The Cherries still have a healthy six-point gap to Huddersfield in third and have two games in hand over the Terriers. Catching leaders Fulham, who they trail by 11 points and have a game in hand over, seems unlikely though.

Scott Parker says that he is "really surprised" that this game will be played at 12:30pm on Saturday, less than 72 hours after another long away trip in midweek.

His team have the best defensive record away from home in the Championship, conceding just 15 goals in 18 matches on the road.

Bournemouth scored twice in three second-half minutes as they came from behind to win 2-1 against Sheffield United at the Vitality Stadium earlier in the season.

Before that game, the Blades were unbeaten in the last 10 meetings, winning nine of them. The Cherries have only won once in their previous nine visits to Bramall Lane and that solitary triumph came in August 1987.

Sheffield United Championship form:
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • W

Bournemouth Championship form:
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • L



Team News

Sheffield United's manager Paul Heckingbottom on March 19, 2022© Reuters

Billy Sharp has missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury and although there is a chance that he could appear on Saturday, Paul Heckingbottom has said that the veteran striker will not be rushed back.

Filip Uremovic made his Sheffield United debut against QPR in midweek and was taken off with cramp in the second half, but should be in contention to feature again.

Heckingbottom revealed that Oli McBurnie had been throwing up all day before the game against the Hoops but the striker still managed 73 minutes. Daniel Jebbison could replace him if necessary.

Dominic Solanke was seen limping during the closing stages of Bournemouth's defeat to West Brom on Wednesday, but Scott Parker said after the game that he was not sure how serious the issue was.

The 24-goal striker has started every league game for the Cherries this season so it would be a huge blow if he was absent; Jamal Lowe or Siriki Dembele would likely take his place upfront in that situation.

A quick turnaround in games could lead Parker to rotate, with Todd Cantwell and Jack Stacey among the names pushing for a start.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Davies, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Fleck, Norwood, Berge, Stevens; Gibbs-White, Jebbison

Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Smith, Phillips, Kelly, Zemura; Billing, Lerma, Cantwell; Dembele, Solanke, Lowe


SM words green background

We say: Sheffield United 1-1 Bournemouth

Bournemouth will not want to get into a rut and start looking nervously over their shoulder, so we expect a response from Parker's side here. But Sheffield United have been invincible at home under Heckingbottom and have plenty to play for themselves, so we think that this game will end level.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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How you voted: Sheff Utd vs Bournemouth

Sheffield United
42.9%
Draw
21.4%
Bournemouth
35.7%
42
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Fulham's Harry Wilson celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 12, 2022
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Fulham39258693326183
2Bournemouth392110862352773
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3919101061362567
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield401812105243966
5Luton TownLuton4018111159451465
6Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd4118111253411265
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn4117121252421063
8Middlesbrough401881452421062
9Millwall411613124540561
10Queens Park RangersQPR41178165553259
11West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom411512144540557
12Preston North EndPreston411415124346-357
13Swansea CitySwansea40169154853-557
14Coventry CityCoventry401511145150156
15Stoke CityStoke411510165347655
16Blackpool401411154447-353
17Cardiff CityCardiff40147194761-1449
18Birmingham CityBirmingham411112184360-1745
19Bristol City41129205273-2145
20Hull City41128213445-1144
21Reading41127224877-2937
22Barnsley40611233059-2929
23Derby CountyDerby411213164047-728
24Peterborough UnitedPeterborough41610253482-4828

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