... Some may suggest that it isn't quite a decent record but for the Pilgrims who have struggled all season against the drop and currently lay 23rd in the Coca-Cola Championship table and are joined in the bottom three by Peterborough United and Crystal Palace.
As for the Blades; they were due to travel to London Road last weekend to face Peterborough United, but an overnight of freezing temperatures put paid to any football action. It was however a 'god sent' that the game was cancelled; Sheffield United have not won away from home since they beat Plymouth Argyle 1-0 with that late James Harper shot in early December 2009 and would also travel to the Posh with a limited squad.
United are without striker Darius Henderson who will now serve the first of a three match suspension against the Pilgrims after his straight red card at Nottingham Forest (lost 0-1) last week; he shall also miss the domestic fixtures against London duo Crystal Palace (at Selhurst Park) and at home to Queens Park Rangers - owing to any further cancellations then the former Watford striker will return to action against Blackpool.
Also suspended is number one shot stopper Paddy Kenny after failing a drugs test - his suspension however doesn't end until late April and will be allowed to feature in our final two league fixtures against Swansea City and Ipswich Town.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell is expected to be without defensive duo Chris Morgan (hip) and Marcel Seip (hamstring) whom are both out injured. Dutchman Seip is currently on loan to the Cutlers from tomorrow's opponents Argyle until the remainder of the season and isn't allowed to feature against his parent club.
The centre-half was snapped up by the Pilgrims in August 2006 from Netherlands side Heerenveen - making his debut in a 1-0 defeat at Southampton, to date he has made 125 (+3) appearances for the Home Park side and netted six goals.
Blades Last Line-Up (16/02/2010 vs. Nottingham Forest) -
Mark Bunn, Nyron Nosworthy, Kyle Bartley, Derek Geary, Toni Kallio, Nick Montgomery, Mark Yeates, Lee Williamson, Darius Henderson, Jamie Ward, Henri Camara. Substitutes: Ched Evans, Ian Bennett, Richard Cresswell, Jordan Stewart, Glen Little, Stephen Quinn, Jonathan Fortune.
Plymouth Argyle come into their fixture at Bramall Lane having gone undefeated in the previous three games, a surprise victory at Barnsley (3-1) was followed by score draws against Swansea City and Leicester City (both 1-1); though they will be severely disappointed with the draw against the Foxes.
The 'Green Army' had the majority of the chances throughout the game against Nigel Pearson's Foxes, but it was a defensive blunder from Kari Arnason (32 minutes) which brought an own goal from Argyle; the midfielder attempted a back pass to keeper David Stockdale who had moved out of goal and into a back pass position. Arnason was unaware of this as he passed the ball directly at goal with the keeper stranded - City handed a gift of a goal!
Moments later the scores were level when Craig Noone (39) found the back of the net, sending a looping header over the top of Chris Weale who was unable to stop his header; 1-1.
The Devon club will saw defender Reda Johnson (foot and hip) return from injury to face Leicester at Home Park last weekend and should feature in S2 once again, on loan Blackburn Rovers striker Alan Judge has recovered from illness and should feature in the eighteen man squad whilst David McNamee (groin) is ruled out.
Pilgrims Last Line-Up (20/02/2010 vs. Leicester City) -
David Stockdale, Chris Barker, Reda Johnson, Karl Duguid, Carl Fletcher, Chris Clark, Damien Johnson, Kari Arnason, Craig Noone, Jamie Mackie, Rory Fallon. Substitutes: Romain Larrieu, Gary Sawyer, Luke Summerfield, Alan Judge, Joe Mason, Kenny Cooper, Yannick Bolasie
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2-0 Plymouth Argyle
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