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Blades P6 W4 D1 L1 GF8 GA3 GD+5 Pts13
Owls P6 W1 D3 L2 GF8 GF8 GD- Pts6
Last Six Home/Away League Games:
Blades P6 W2 D1 L3 GF9 GA10 GD-1 Pts7
Owls P6 W1 D2 L3 GF4 GA8 GD-4 Pts5
The Blades enter the Steel City Derby as the 3rd most in form team in the division and the Owls go into it the 5th worst side on current form.
4 wins and 1 draw has seen the Blades collect a healthy 13 points but goals haven't been the easiest to come by. Although the Blades have hit the back of the net 8 times recently, 3 came against Charlton meaning that they average just 1 per game elsewhere. Although they might not be free scoring they do have the 2nd best defence in the division which has kept 3 clean sheets in the last 6 games and only conceded 3 in the others.
Bramall Lane is still not back to the fortress that it was at the start of the campaign. Although they bolster such a great defence it has been worryingly breached 10 times in recent matches, baring in mind that they've only conceded 14 at home all season. The Blades must learn to keep possession better in order to give the defence less to have to worry about.
The Owls go into the Derby in indifferent form. Although they can state that they've not lost 4 of the games, the argument can be flipped over in that they've not won 5 of their recent games. The Owls have scored 8 goals during this period but conceded the same at the other end. Although the Owls defence is leaky and has failed to keep a clean sheet in recent games, they might not have much trouble if the Blades play into their hands by adopting long ball tactics.
Away from home it's been more of the same. The Owls have picked up 5 points and conceded 8 goals with only 4 being scored in return. 2 of these came in the same match which means that the Owls have failed to score in 3 of their recent away games, but they did manage 1 clean sheet.
Overall the general form and comparison between home and away records would suggest a Blades win, but it's a Derby match. Anything can happen.
PREDICTION - SCORE DRAW
Thanks Philip Yates for the Form Guides.
More features and previews of the Steel City Derby will follow soon... Catch up and don't miss all the previews and reaction in our Match Centre. You can either visit it by clicking on Owls vs Blades 7/2 in the left hand nav under the Match Day section, or you can alternatively click here.