Sheffield United still remain 6th in the league after beating Swindon Town by two goals to nil in their previous league game last Saturday. Last season the Blades reached the semi-final of the FA Cup but certainly will not achieve the dizzy heights after being dumped out of the cup by Preston last Tuesday night.
Preston hit three goals in 10 second-half minutes to dispose of cup kings Sheffield United 3-1 and set up a mouth-watering FA Cup fifth-round home clash with Manchester United. It looked as if the Blades, who were beaten in the Capital One Cup semi-final by Tottenham last week , would continue their love affair with the cup competitions as they led through Jamie Murphy's first-half opener. But they were second best throughout and Preston responded in style after the break as Paul Gallagher netted either side of Paul Huntington's header to arrange the meeting with Louis van Gaal's side, who saw off Cambridge 3-0 in their replay on Tuesday night.
It was thoroughly deserved for the visitors, who bossed matters from the off and should have been in front after 12 minutes when a defensive lapse from Chris Basham sent Kevin Davies clear but, with time and space, the veteran striker could only hit the post. There were further chances for Simon Grayson's men and home goalkeeper Mark Howard made a hat-trick of saves, the best a superb low stop to keep out Tom Clarke's back-post header. And it was against the run of play when the hosts, who reached the last four of this competition last season, stole into a 38th-minute lead as Murphy cut inside and his low shot went through keeper Thorsten Stuckmann's grasp.
It was an open start to the second half, with both sides threatening, but North End wrapped up the tie with a 10-minute three-goal salvo. Gallagher's moment of brilliance brought the sides level after 63 minutes as the on-loan Leicester man whipped a stunning 18-yard free-kick into the top corner, and Huntington's header from Scott Laird's corner six minutes later put the visitors ahead. The game was made safe when Gallagher netted from the spot following Jay McEveley's foul on Chris Humphrey, and United had no response as their impressive cup exploits ended for another season.
Blades boss Nigel Clough could hand first team debuts to new signings Matt Done (from Rochdale) and Jason Holt (Hearts of Midlothian). Meanwhile John Brayford, Paul Coutts, Che Adams and Kieran Wallace were all cup-tied against Preston and could return to this weekend's line-up. However they are without Ryan Flynn (Achilles) and Stefan Scougall (knee) through injury.
Gillingham will no doubt have seen their 1-1 draw at Walsall last weekend as a valuable point as the Gills battle against the drop. They are currently four points above Colchester United (Blades next home opponents) who hold the last relegation spot.
Walsall's run without a home league win stretched to four games when they were held by improving Gillingham in a 1-1 draw at the Banks's Stadium. And it needed a goal from Ashley Grimes - his first in nearly two years - to salvage a point for the Saddlers after Bradley Dack had beaten the offside trap and drilled a low cross-shot past Richard O'Donnell in the 69th minute. Walsall looked to be heading for a third successive home defeat until Grimes drove in from close range when Andy Taylor's free-kick was not cleared in the 75th minute.
Walsall had dominated the first half but could not break through a determined Gillingham defence despite carving out several chances and the visitors had Gavin Hoyte booked in the 10th minute for pushing James Chambers into the surrounding wall. Tom Bradshaw had a drive saved by Stuart Nelson from a Romaine Sawyers pass, and in the 16th minute Bradshaw hit a fierce volley from Anthony Forde's cross, but Cody McDonald cleared off the line.
The Gills are currently without a manager and despite speculation that Hereford boss Justin Edinburgh is to take the reins the team selections are currently being made by former boss Andy Hessenthaler, 49. They are likley to be without defender Joe Martin (ankle) through injury and loanees Max Elmer (QPR) and John Marquis (Millwall) may feature after extending their loan deals until the end of the season.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Gillingham 1 Sheffield United 2