The Blades have had a great start to the Championship season; remaining unbeaten in their first five fixtures; - they kick started the campaign with a 0-0 draw at Middlesbrough before Jamie Ward scored their first league goal of the season as United beat Watford at Bramall Lane.
Prior to that victory against the Hornets the Red and White Wizards had succumbed to a 2-1 home loss to Port Vale in the League Cup, Vale would eventually knock out Sheffield Wednesday also. Back in the Championship and the Blades looked bright as Leicester City managed a 1-1 draw at the Lane.
Reading where then on the wrong end of a 3-1 result as United came from a goal down to win the game via; Stephen Quinn, Jamie Ward and David Cotterill goals. The Blades then drew 2-2 with
West Bromwich Albion before the international break.
United won on the road again, this time at Derby County (1-0) before losing their first away game since April at Coventry City in a 3-2 defeat.
Defender Matthew Kilgallon didn't play in that defeat at the Ricoh Arena with a chest infection, former Wednesday trialist Ryan France took his place in the Blades back four. Andy Taylor also limped off in the second half at the Ricoh Arena and was replaced by Jordan Stewart who could now make his full debut against the Owls.
The Blades will most certainly be facing the Owls without keeper Paddy Kenny who was handed a nine month ban last week and is expected to return in April 2010; on loan shot stopper Mark Bunn (Blackburn Rovers) is expected to take his place.
The former Bury and Bradford Park Avenue shot stopper is expected to appeal against the length of his ban, but at present he final fixture he will serve a ban will be the Steel City Derby at Hillsborough and will be made available again for the final two fixtures of the season against Swansea City (h) and Ipswich Town (a).
United, however will also be without midfielder Lee Williamson (back) who looks to require sugary after a pre-season out injured; they will also be without Derek Geary (hamstring), Gary Speed (back) Gary Naysmith (knee).
Defender Derek Geary is unlikely to feature against former club; his profession al football career is touch and go at the moment. The full-back started his career at Sheffield Wednesday after been touted from Irish club Rivermount in November 1997.
Del had to wait until September 2000 until he made his debut in a 3-1 victory at Oldham Athletic; Owen Morrison was on the score sheet that day whilst Alan Quinn also played. He went onto make 116 (+9) appearances in a Blue and White shirt before joining Stockport County on a free transfer in July 2004.
Three months later he made the £25,000 move to Bramall Lane and made his debut against Stockport County in a 4-1 league cup win at the Lane; though the Blades needed extra-time in order to
win this match.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Mark Bunn, Kyle Walker, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Jordan Stewart, Jamie Ward, Nick Montgomery, James Harper, Keith Treacy, Ched Evans, Darius Henderson.
| Bunn | |||
| Walker | Norgan (c) | Kilgallon | Stewart |
| Ward | Quinn | Montgomery | Treacy |
| Evans | Henderson | ||
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday
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:: Statistics ::
For Head to Head statistics please click here.
Last 10 Games... Home & Away
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
| 2008/2009 | Sat 07 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Wed. | Championship |
| Sun 19 Oct | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship | |
| 2007/2008 | Tue 08 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 2 | Sheff. Wed. | Championship |
| Sat 19 Jan | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship | |
| 2005/2006 | Sat 18 Feb | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship |
| Sat 03 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | Championship | |
| 2002/2003 | Fri 17 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | League Division One |
| Sun 01 Sep | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One | |
| 2001/2002 | Tue 29 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | League Division One |
| Sun 07 Oct | Sheff. Wed. | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One |
| Head to Head Statistics... | Goals | |||||
| Venue | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against |
| Home | 61 | 26 | 22 | 13 | 95 | 68 |
| Away | 61 | 18 | 16 | 27 | 73 | 92 |
Total | 122 | 44 | 38 | 41 | 169 | 162 |
* Statistics correct up to and including 01/08/2009
:: Match Officials ::
Referee: Alan Wiley
Assistants: A. Garratt & A. Halliday
Fourth Official: K. Stroud