The Blades were victorious in their last fixture, last weekend, when Billy Sharp netted a brace to beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0. The result kept up United's unbeaten record and extended this to five matches.
Meanwhile, the Blades also profited from midweek results which saw Bolton held to a draw at home to Bristol Rovers, and Scunthorpe lose at home to AFC Wimbledon (1-2). The result leaves United firmly on pole position and 7 points adrift if joint second Scunthorpe and Fleetwood Town. Ironically the pair faces each other this weekend.
Billy Sharp netted twice as Sheffield United beat Bolton 2-0 to move clear at the top of Sky Bet League One. Sharp took his goal tally to 23 for the season to give United a commanding seven-point advantage over Fleetwood and Scunthorpe. The defeat for Bolton leaves them in fourth and without an away win since late November.
The home side created more chances in the game and skipper David Wheater was called into action early on when he headed Jake Wright's volley off the line. Shortly after, though, his defensive partner Mark Beevers let John Fleck's through ball to Sharp go under his foot and the striker slotted past goalkeeper Mark Howard in the 12th minute.
Second-half substitute Samir Carruthers combined well down the right-hand side with Kieron Freeman to break into the area, before Beevers brought down Carruthers as he turned inside. Sharp slotted home the penalty in the 70th minute.
Harry Chapman is heading back to Sheffield United after recovering from an ankle injury, although this weekend's clash will come too soon. The midfielder returned to parent club Middlesbrough after sustaining the injury in November and is set to play for United's under-23 side against Bolton on Monday.
If Manchester United defender Joe Riley is to feature again for the Blades it will have to be next season after his loan was cut short by a dislocated shoulder. Boss Chris Wilder could named an unchanged side for the third successive match after seeing his team move seven points clear at the top of the table with victory over promotion rivals Bolton last weekend.
ROCHDALE VS. SHEFFIELD UNITED
Earlier in the season Rochdale were touting themselves as a potential top six side and wee holding the last Play-Off spot for a few weeks. However they haven't managed a league victory since 2 January against Walsall. This formed the last of a five matches with straight victories. Since then they have managed just three draws in their last seven matches and have dropped alarmingly to tenth.
A victory over the league leaders would boost confidence and re-spark their ambitions as Play-Off dark horses but come into this fixture on the back of a 3-1 defeat at Peterborough United. Referee Chris Sarginson issued three red cards as Peterborough beat Rochdale 3-1 victory in a battle of two faltering League One play-off challengers. The hosts struck twice in the space of three minutes as Jack Baldwin steered in a Marcus Maddison corner (36) before Tom Nichols produced a glorious finish from a Leo Da Silva Lopes pass (39).
Rochdale cut their arrears within 60 seconds through Joe Thompson before Joe Rafferty became the first man to receive his marching orders. He was sent off in first-half stoppage time after grabbing Maddison to earn a second caution. The visitors were reduced to nine men eight minutes into the second half when Donal McDermott was given a straight red for jumping into a challenge on Baldwin.
Posh failed to make their numerical advantage count as Wilson made fine saves to deny Maddison and Brad Inman. And Grant McCann's men were then reduced to 10 men themselves as skipper Baldwin collected a second caution for scything down Ian Henderson. It was a dismissal which briefly gave the visitors a glimmer of hope which was dashed when Paul Taylor rifled in an Inman cross with five minutes to go.
Rochdale have a number of players unavailable for Saturday's Sky Bet League One home clash with leaders Sheffield United. The Dale, whose scheduled home match against Port Vale on Tuesday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, will be without both Donal McDermott and Joe Rafferty through suspension as they begin three and one-game bans respectively after being sent off last weekend at Peterborough.
Additional to that, former Blade Steven Davies (knee), Jack Redshaw (shin splints), Joe Bunney (foot), Matty Lund (knee) and Niall Canavan (leg) are all out because of injury. And it remains to be seen if Callum Camps or Joel Taylor are involved, with both having been battling illness of late.
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