Sheffield United face Scunthorpe tomorrow at Glanford Park before hosting the Iron on Tuesday, 24 March (7.45pm) in the re-scheduled fixture which had origionally was due to be played on 28 December last but was postponed due to a heavy downfall of snow over the Steel City. The Blades will need to pick themselves up rapidly following recent results against Crawley Town (1-1), Peterborough United (1-2) and Fleetwood Town (1-2) which has seen United pick up just one point from nine which has allowed our play-off competitors to bridge the gap to just three points behind.
Fleetwood remain in play-off contention after a 2-1 win at Sheffield United, who stay fifth in the table despite the loss. All the goals came in the first half with Josh Morris and Nick Haughton putting the visitors in control before Matt Done reduced the Blades' arrears. Nigel Clough's men made the early running with debutant Steven Davies putting a couple of efforts off-target and Jose Baxter firing over from long distance. But it was Fleetwood who took a 25th-minute lead when Morris found himself in space on the left-hand side of the area and smashed the ball past goalkeeper Iain Turner.
Turner was beaten again when Haughton fired in from distance, wide on the left, after 35 minutes. After United's Michael Doyle had a header tipped over, Done pulled a goal back, stabbing in from close-range after Baxter's cross was headed down by Chris Basham. Baxter put a long-range shot wide in the second half while Haughton's low shot was easily saved by Turner. Doyle's volley forced keeper Chris Maxwell to produce a superb save, tipping the ball over.
Having picked up ten bookings this season the Blades will be without Chris Basham through suspension for the next two matches. The former Blackpool defender will miss the trips to Glanford Park tomorrow and Walsall next Tuesday night. For Nigel Clough it will mean either a re-shuffle in defence or 'be brave' and recall Neil Collins to the team?
The Blades chief will be without defenders Terry Kennedy (knee) and Jay McEveley (shoulder) along with midfielder Stefan Scougall (knee), winger Ryan Flynn (hamstring), goalkeeper Mark Howard (back) and striker Michael Higdon (hamstring), all through injury.
Since relegation from the Championship in 2011 the Iron have struggled even since. They were relegated again in 2013 but last season finished a credable 2nd in League Two to be promoted automatically alongside Champions Chesterfield and 3rd placed Rochdale.
Once again they find themselves struggling near the foot of the table. They won back-to-back home victories against Swindon Town (3-1) and Chesterfield (2-0) on 14th & 17th February but in the further five games which followed have only managed two draws. Currently they lay 17th in the League One table but took a set-back last Saturday in their quest for mid table obscurity by recording a 2-0 defeat at relegation rivals Crewe Alexandra.
Crewe secured their first win in five games as two goals inside a minute from Greg Leigh and Marcus Haber clinched a 2-0 victory against Scunthorpe. Steve Davis' side had failed to score in more than six hours' of football and were short on ideas during a poor first half. But Crewe were transformed by two superb second-half goals. Leigh, on loan from Manchester City, thundered the ball into the top corner in the 54th-minute and Haber made youngster James Jones' fine far-post cross count with a thumping header for the second.
Scunthorpe, without a win now in five games, rarely threatened despite having plenty of the first-half possession. Paddy Madden botched the Iron's best chance when he failed to connect with Liam O'Neil's cross at the far post. Anthony Grant was Crewe's inspiration and the former Southend midfielder went close to picking out the bottom corner with a low drive. Grant then helped set up Nicky Ajose on the stroke of half-time, but the Leeds loanee stabbed his effort wide.
Scunthorpe goalkeeper Daniels did well to save a fierce shot from youngster Jones after the restart. But he was powerless to keep out the efforts from Leigh and Haber as Crewe put their 4-0 midweek reverse at the hands of Rochdale behind them. Jones went close to capping a fine display with a swerving left-footed shot, which only just cleared the crossbar.
The Iron are likley to recall former Blades defender Marcus Williams. He has been abscent through (back) injury but Mark Robins may still stick with Conor Townsend (on loan from Hull City) at left full-back. Meanwhile shipper Neal Bishop is pushing for a start after being sidelined through suspension whilst they are without Sam Slocombe and James Severn - both are suffering with broken arms.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Scunthorpe United 1 Sheffield United 1
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