Our preview of the Blades visit to the Lamex...
Sheffield United
Sky Bet League 1
Saturday 21st December 2013
The Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, SG2 8RH
Kick-off: 3pm
Weather forecast: Cloudy, 10°c
Referee: David Phillips
Last time we met:
Who could forget last time we met? In March Boro went into the game low on confidence and form whereas Sheffield United were running hot and in the hunt for automatic promotion. 90 minutes later Boro were 4-0 winners thanks to a hat-trick from Dani Lopez and a goal from Lucas Akins.
Boro team: Arnold, Hills, Roberts, Comminges, Ngala, Grant, Dunne, Mahon, Haber (Beleck), Akins (Hoskins), Lopez (Tansey)
Subs not used: Day, Iro, Shroot, Freeman.
Team news:
Jon Ashton is a possibility after injuring his foot last weekend against Port Vale, the gaffer says he’s ‘unlikely’ but that ‘nothing would surprise me with Ash’. Doughty and Deacon are both suspended but Morais and Heslop return to the side.
Aidy White and Stephen McGinn are in a race for fitness ahead of the weekend for the away side. White was forced off in the win over Swindon Town last weekend with a hamstring injury whilst McGinn missed the game after picking up an injury in their win at Cambridge in the FA Cup.
Diego De Girolamo is back in light training for the blades, having been out with a knee injury since March and he is hoping to return in the New Year.
View from the dressing room:
To watch all the full interviews with the gaffer, Jon Ashton and Sam Wedgbury either sign up or sign into Boro Player.
Betting:
You can get a good price on a Stevenage win at the weekend – 15/8 for a home win with Sky Bet! Repeat of last season? 80/1!
Even just for Stevenage to win by more than 1 goal you can get 5/1!
As usual Zoko is the favourite to score the first goal – 11/2. Jordan Burrow got a brace last weekend and he’s 7/1 to score first, 14/1 to score 2 or more.
Sign up to Sky Bet through any of the attached links to help the club earn revenue!
The Sheffield United scout report.
Recent form:
Despite an up-turn in fortune Sheffield United are only two points ahead of Boro going into the game. In the relegation zone for much of the season, Sheffield United’s promotion aspirations are severely delayed. The season actually started according to plan – a win in their first league game against Notts County got them off to a good start but their next league win came 10 games later. Since Nigel Clough joined the club the ship has been steadied and the team are currently unbeaten in five games.
Key man:
The stand-out player for the Blades this season has been Harry Maguire who continues to impress in the heart of Sheffield United’s defence. The 20 year old came through the youth ranks at the club and has gone on to become one of the first names on the team sheet, making over 100 appearances. Already an England U21 international too, he will surely be the next English talent to leave the Bramall Lane conveyor belt for bigger and better things.Top of Form