Leeds United won this corresponding fixture at Elland Road earlier in the season when Bradley Johnson (83 minutes) finished off Robert Snodgrass’ timely run. Both sides were reduced to ten men towards the death when Jamie Ward and Snodgrass were given their marching orders.
The Blades come into this Yorkshire Derby with Leeds on back of a heavy defeat at Watford and is a game which many fans will remember for the wrong reasons.
Watford found themselves a goal up 10 minutes into the game when Danny Graham capitalised on slack defending to head home his 23rd of the season; and in ten mad minutes the Blades were reduced to nine men.
Firstly, Darius Henderson was handed his second yellow card if the game on his first start of the season after recovering from a lengthy hamstring injury and after a rash aerial challenge midfielder Lee Williamson was handed a straight red card.
United hung on until half-time but it was always going to be an uphill struggle with nine men, but Watford finished the job through Martin Taylor (57) and Ross Jenkins (86).
Blades boss Micky is without a number of players; Matt Lowton (knee), Ryan France (back), Richard Wright (thigh) and Andy Taylor (leg) are all missing through injury.
Defender Matt Lowton was forced to leave the field of play early after only five minutes after occurring an knee injury in the reserves victory at Nottingham Forest and is currently doubtful to be included in this weekend’s showdown with Leeds.
Following their red cards at Vicarage Road both Darius Henderson and Lee Williamson will be absent for this weekend’s visit of Leeds United. Having only received two bookings Henderson will serve just a one match suspension.
Meanwhile Williamson, who received his second red card of the season after being sent off for two bookings at Ipswich Town (0-3), he will now sit out four fixtures against Leeds, QPR, Middlesbrough and Cardiff City and will be eligible for selection at former club Preston North End on 16 April.
United did appeal Willo’s red card but this was turned down by the Football Association; however they are lucky that no extra bans were added to his already four matches that he will miss.
Blades boss Micky Adams is likely to feature three former Peacocks against their former club this weekend; Richard Cresswell, Shane Lowry and Neill Collins should all feature.
Cresswell signed for the Whites from Preston North End in August 2005 in a £1,115,000 transfer; making his debut in a 1-0 victory at Norwich City. He joined Stoke City two years later having made 31 (13) appearances and scoring 11 goals.
Lowry was on loan at Elland Road last season, joining in late January until the remainder of the season as the Whites gained entry to the Championship – finishing runners-up behind Norwich City. He made his debut in a 2-0 home win over Colchester United and went onto make twelve appearances for the club.
Collins also helped celebrate promotion into the Championship last season during a loan spell from Wolverhampton Wanderers and was snapped up on a permanent deal in July 2010. He had made his debut in a 1-0 defeat at Norwich in late March and in total made 31 (+1) appearances for the Elland Road club before joining the Blades in late January 2011.
Expected Eleven:
Simonsen
Nosworthy Lowry Collins Kozluk
Cresswell Montgomery (c) Quinn Doyle Bogdanovic
Vokes