The Blades come into this League One fixture day after claiming a 2-1 victory over Nott’s County at Bramall Lane. Though they had to come from behind after Alan Judge’s (17 minutes) 35 yard free-kick evaded everyone, including a static Steve Simonsen.
United bounced back and on 31 minutes a well worked move with Lescinsel Jean-Francois as the catalyst eventually saw Richard Cresswell slide the ball into the box for Ryan Flynn (31) to pounce and fire home.
In the second half added a second with Alan Sheehan (51) turning into his own net under the pressure of Cresswell following Stephen Quinn’s cross. With the final whistle looming substitute Ishmel Demontagnac (90) was handed a straight red card for County after he slammed the ball into a united players face.
The win saw the Blades move up to second place after Sheffield Wednesday had lost (2-1) at Walsall the previous day.
Midfielder Lee Williamson missed the encounter with Nott’s County due to suspension; he will be made available again for the visit of Hartlepool United tomorrow. He could take the place of Stephen Quinn whose yellow card he picked will see him suspended for one match.
Striker Richard Cresswell too picked up his fifth booking of the season which will see him suspended this weekend – he is likely to be replaced by either James Beattie or Chris Portner.
Blades boss Danny Wilson could field Neill Collins to face his former club; he spent time at Victoria Park on loan (from Sunderland) between August 2005 and January 2006; making his debut in a 1-0 victory at Doncaster Rovers. He made 25 (+0) appearances in total.
Hartlepool United recorded a 1-0 victory at Oldham Athletic on Boxing Day, but it was their first victory in five matches and as a result goes into this fixture twelfth in the table with 29 points.
The Pool have finally made the appointment of Neale Cooper official following the sacking of Mick Wadsworth weeks ago and will take charge of his first match for his new club at Bramall Lane this weekend.
New manager Cooper will come to Bramall Lane with no player’s fresh on the injury list, though Stephen Wright (Achilles) remains doubtful.
They are likely to field defender Evan Horwood, 25 against his former club. A product of the Blades Academy he made just one appearance in a 2-0 defeat at Reading in the League Cup (October 2005) between July 2004 and January 2008 where upon leaving Bramall Lane signed for Scottish club Gretna.
Whilst at the Lane he was sent out on loan to Stockport County, Scunthorpe United, York City, Chester City and Darlington. He made the move to Hartlepool United (via Carlisle United) in July 2010 on a free transfer.
We’ve met before...
The two United’s of Sheffield and Hartlepool met earlier in the season as the Football League Cup drew each club together. The Blades had taken the lead through Stephen Quinn (29 minutes) but Peter Sweeney (80) levelled for the home side to force extra-time.
The scores remained locked at 1-1 and penalties were enforced with the Blades winning 4-3. Danny Wilson’s Blades were eliminated by Everton (at Goodison Park) in the following round despite taking the lead through Richard Cresswell.
Despite facing each other seven times in all competitive fixtures the Blades and the Pool have only been matched together twice in the league. The pair met during the Fourth Division campaign in 1981-82.
They recorded at 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane and a 3-2 result in favour of the Blades at the Victoria Ground in their promotion winning campaign.
|
venue |
p |
w |
d |
l |
gf |
ga |
|
Bramall Lane |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
|
Victortia Ground |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
|
Total |
7 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
10 |
8 |