Following the sacking of former boss Darren Kelly, Athletic have swiftly appointed David Dunn, who served both Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City as a player, as well as earning one England cap in 2002. He was appointed on 13 September and in the five league games that he has managed to date, he has yet to pick up a victory and suffered his first defeat last weekend at home to Scunthorpe United. They have accumulated three 1-1 draws (against Doncaster Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Port Vale) whilst drawing three goals each at Gillingham.
Scunthorpe earned their first away win of the season with a 4-2 victory at Oldham. The Iron had already hit a post through Gary McSheffrey when they scored after 10 minutes, with Paddy Madden playing in McSheffrey for a calm 12-yard finish. Oldham levelled in the 25th minute as Danny Philliskirk's long-range shot deflected to Liam Kelly, who turned neatly and slotted in from 10 yards.
The home side grabbed the lead only two minutes later when Daniel Lafferty's volley found Dominic Poleon for a scrambled close-range finish. Scunthorpe claimed Poleon's strike was offside, but they made it 2-2 after 35 minutes as Tommy Rowe's 14-yard shot took a big deflection to wrong-foot Oldham goalkeeper David Cornell. The visitors were back in front on 69 minutes when Madden drilled in the rebound after Tom Hopper's point-blank header was brilliantly saved by Cornell.
Iron substitute Kevin van Veen killed off the match six minutes from time, weaving through two defenders before chipping in from 14 yards for a superb individual goal. Oldham's defeat was their first since David Dunn took over as manager.
The Latics are likely to hand a full debut to former Stoke City and Millwall striker Ricardo Fuller, who joined on a free transfer having left the Lions this summer. However they will be without forward Michael Higdon, who is on loan from Sheffield United and under the terms of his loan deal is unable to play against the Blades. The striker has impressively netted two goals in his last two games since joining the Boundary Park club.
On the injury front, they will be without ex-Blade Jonthan Forte (knee) as well as Celtic loanee Eoghan O'Connell (thigh).
Blades-Mad Prediction: Oldham Athletic 1 Sheffield United 2
