United go into this clash after claiming their second 1-1 draw in consecutive fixtures; they drew with Doncaster Rovers last weekend and looked to be on the end of a defeat at Cardiff City on Wednesday night when Jay Botheroyd's (40 minutes) long range effort beat Steve Simonsen in a first half where the Blades notched just one shot on target.
The second half was much different and after much needed changes the visitors and a decent performance was awarded with a goal via Stephen Quinn (67) who finished off from close range after his initial effort was stopped by David Marshall.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell has a long list of injuries and will be without strikers Darius Henderson (foot), Jamie Ward (hamstring), Ched Evans (broken collarbone) and Henri Camara (groin), defenders Derek Geary (ankle), Gary Naysmith (hamstring) and skipper Chris Morgan (leg) and midfielder Ryan France (leg). However it was pleasing to see winger Mark Yeates (back) return to the side in South Wales.
The only former Iron on the S2 clubs book is Billy Sharp who is currently on a season's long loan to fellow South Yorkshire outfit Doncaster Rovers and could return to the Red and White Wizards in the summer.
He was signed by then manager Brian Laws in a £100,000 transfer in August 2005 and within his second season helped the club win promotion to the Championship as Champions. He played a total of 92 (+3) games for the club and scored 56 goals before completing a full transfer to his former club Sheffield United.
Blades Last Line-Up (24/03/2010 at Cardiff City): Steve Simonsen, Paul Connolly, Kyle Bartley, Nyron Nosworthy, Andy Taylor, Glen Little, Nick Montgomery, James Harper, Stephen Quinn, Jordan Stewart, Richard Cresswell. Substitutes: Ian Bennett, Mark Yeates, Lee Williamson, Matthew Lowton, Marcel Seip, Jonathan Fortune.
The Blades were on the receiving end of a three-one defeat in the earlier clash at Glanford Park this season; Grant McCann (22 & 59)
netted a brace for the home side whilst Paul Hayes (53) stretched their lead after Blades striker Ched Evans (51) had fired home a free-kick.
United come into this game on back of a 4-0 victory over the Championship's rock bottom club Peterborough United who surely have left it late for any hopes of a survival challenge; Paul Hayes (15), Garry Thompson (25 & 64) and Sam Togwell (44) all netted in the rout.
That comfortable win over the Posh on Tuesday night put the Iron into 19th place and five points clear of Crystal Palace who hold that last relegation spot - no doubt however the league table will look a lot different with the majority of the teams playing on Saturday and the Blades a day later.
Iron boss Nigel Atkins will be without Cliff Bryne who will sit out this clash at Bramall Lane through suspension, the defender was shown a straight red card in the 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Town a few weeks ago and is currently serving the fourth of a five match ban. It was his third red card of the season having already been handed his marching orders at Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion.
They will also be without star striker Gary Hooper (groin) through injury, the striker has netted 13 goals this season. Josh Wright (ankle) is considered a doubt. However former united forward Jonathan Forte should feature against the Blades.
Forte came through the youth ranks at Bramall Lane and after loans spells at Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United eventually signed for tomorow's opponents in July 2007 after four years as a professional with the club. He made his Blades debut as a substitute in a 3-0 FA Cup win at Nottingham Forest and went onto play just five times (+34) and scored once in a defeat at Leicester City.
Iron Last Line-Up (23/03/2010 vs. Peterborough United): Joe Murphy, Marcus Williams, Kenny Milne, David Mirfin, Andrew Wright, Sam Togwell, Matthew Sparrow, Grant McCann, Garry Thompson, Martyn Woolford, Paul Hayes. Substitutes: Jonathan Forte, Ben May, Michael O'Connor, Donal McDermott, Josh Lills, Niall Canavan, Jim NcNulty.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2-0 Scunthorpe United
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