The Blades hit a slight stumbling block last Saturday in their quest to chase the automatic top two positions. Having seen Jose Baxter dismissed early on United found themselves two-nil down but staged a magnificent comeback to draw the game and earn at least a point. The result leaves United 13 points behind the top two were further matches without maximum points may mean the Blades will have to settle for fighting for a play-off place.
Sheffield United staged a remarkable comeback to snatch a draw against Coventry despite playing most of the game with 10 men. Goals from Michael Doyle and Jamie Murphy cancelled out Dominic Samuel's brace to keep their hopes of snatching an automatic promotion place alive and heap further pressure on visiting manager Steven Pressley. Nigel Clough's side, who saw Jose Baxter dismissed during the early exchanges, looked dead and buried when Samuel doubled City's lead from close range at the start of the second half.
But they showed the fighting spirit which the former England international believes can lift them back into the Championship by claiming what could yet prove a vital point. Baxter was sent off in the 16th minute for a foul on Adam Barton and 17 minutes later, as the match became increasingly ill-tempered, Samuel fired City ahead after running past Bob Harris and sliding the ball home. Samuel pounced again when Aaron Phillips delivered a cross into Iain Turner's penalty box and although the United goalkeeper saved the on-loan Reading youngster's first attempt, he was powerless to prevent him converting the rebound. But the 10 men hit back through Doyle's srike in the 78th minute, and two minutes later Murphy slotted home a deserved equaliser.
Blades boss Nigel Clough will likley recall Jason Holt to the first owing to the three-match suspension of Jose Baxter following his straight red card last weekend. The midfielder will miss tonight's trip to Spotland as well as fixtures against Crawley Town (a) and at home to Peterborough United but will be free from suspension at home to Fleetwood Town on 7 March. Having scored 14 goals for Dale (and 4 for the Blades) striker Matt Done will be eager to once again get on the score-sheet after moving from Spotland to Bramall Lane in January.
The United boss told BBC Radio Sheffield; "I think we've seen glimpses of Jose Baxter's best form and we'll miss the flexibility he gives us. "It's unlikely we'll look to add anyone on loan, but we'll have to see what the injury situation is like after the Rochdale game. All of our remaining games are big now. There were some surprising results at the weekend so it was a missed opportunity for us not to have won at the weekend. I think we're playing well and scoring goals which is good shape to be in at this stage of the season."
Tonight's opponents Rochdale are just four points behind sixth placed Bradford City despite laying 13th in the table - representing how tight the League One table is right now with a number of clubs fighting for the play-off places. The Dale will be eager to win this game in hand and become a surpirse package for the top 6.
Ian Henderson's scrappy second-half goal gave Rochdale a 1-0 win against Chesterfield at Spotland last Saturday. A first half short on quality and goalmouth incident yielded just one chance at either end of the field. First Tom Kennedy llifted a cross towards the edge of the six-yard area where Peter Vincenti stole in ahead of his marker but sent a powerful header over the crossbar. The Spireites then went close with Sam Clucas picking out Gary Roberts but the veteran wideman's header was saved by Dale goalkeeper Josh Lillis. Just shy of the hour mark a well-executed volley from the edge of the area by Ollie Banks was comfortably dealt with by Lillis. Dale made the breakthrough after 65 minutes when Michael Rose sent a low free-kick towards the near post and Henderson ghosted in to get the slightest of touches to tuck the ball beneath Tommy Lee. Caolan Lavery had a chance to snatch an equaliser in time added on when raced clear down the left channel but Lillis pulled off a fine save.
Dale boss Keith Kill will be without midfield duo Rhys Bennett (knee) and Matty Lund (dislocated shoulder) who are both sidelined through injury. They are also likely to be without captain Ollie Lancashire (knock) along with defender Rhys Bennett (knee) and Matty Lund (dislocated shoulder) through injury.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Rochdale 1 Sheffield United 2
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