The Blades won their first three points of the season on the opening day at Oldham Athletic last Saturday, going into the break drawing 0-0 but soon rumbled the Latics net when young defender Harry Maguire (48 minutes) headed home before veteran striker Richard Cresswell (54) stabbed home at the far post.
It was the first time the Bramall Lane club had won on the opening day of the season for six years, the victory put the Blades fifth in the table.
Blades boss Danny Wilson will be keen to progress into round two and rid of the ghost which saw them defeated at the first round stage last season against tomorrow night’s opponents, though the former Hartlepool and Swindon Town boss may opt to field a slightly different side from which won at Boundary Park.
Stand in keepers Mihkel Aksalu and George Long may be taken into consideration whilst David Mcallister and Jordan Slew could also take part. Loan winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Wolverhampton Wanderers) could make his Blades debut after signing last week.
However they will be without Chris Morgan, Johnny Ertl and Andy Taylor through injury.
Blades Possible Line-Up (4-4-2):
Simonsen
Lowton – Maguire - Collins – Lescinel
Flynn – Montgomery – Williamson – Quinn
Cresswell – Bogdanovic
Hartlepool United will deem themselves unfortunate not to have claimed a point on day one after their opponents MK Dons netted a stoppage time leveller after the Victoria Park club were leading 2-1. They had taken the lead through Adam Boyd (20) when he headed home after former Blade Evan Horwood crossed.
In the second half the Dons hit back and through Luke Chadwick (53) made it level. With just five minutes remaining James Poole, who had been on the field just three minutes who fired home before a late Jabo Ibehre spoiled the show.
They will be without strikers James Brown (ankle) and Colin Larkin (twisted ankle) through injury ahead of their cup-tie against Sheffield United – Nolberto Solano is likely to make his home debut after signing in the summer.
We’ve met before...
United and Hartlepool met in last season’s League Cup competition at the same stage with the Pools coming out on top in a 2-0 win – it was their first victory against the Blades on home soil in any competition.
|
venue |
p |
w |
d |
l |
gf |
ga |
|
Bramall Lane |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
|
Victoria Park |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Total |
6 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
9 |
7 |