Scunthorpe United, 14th in the table could move level on points with the Blades should they secure victory, in their last six league outings they have won two, lost three and drawn one. In last weekend's League One battle, the Iron drew 1-1 at Port Vale but most recently booked their way into the second round of the Emirates Cup after eliminating Leyton Orient in a replay to set up a tie at managerless Chelsea.
Scunthorpe struck twice in five second-half minutes to clinch a lucrative trip to Chelsea following a 3-0 victory against Leyton Orient in their FA Cup second-round replay. An own goal by Orient centre-back Jean-Yves M'Voto set them on their way 10 minutes after the break as a shot from Neal Bishop deflected off him past goalkeeper Alex Cisak. And on the hour mark skipper Jack King struck again, with his second goal in successive games, stabbing a shot home from close range after the visitors had struggled to deal with a corner.
It was tough luck on Orient who had started brightly against nervy Scunthorpe, and almost snatched a 10th-minute lead when a shot from Bradley Pritchard was deflected against a post. M'Voto and skipper Mathieu Baudry also went close with first-half headers, both from corners, for the League Two outfit. Scunthorpe, who included teenager Kyle Wootton up front, found it a real struggle.
Their one chance of the opening period came when Luke Williams forced a save from Orient keeper Cisak with a free-kick from the edge of the box. But those two early second-half goals gave them command as Orient faded. Substitute Hakeeb Adelukan put the icing on the cake with a third goal in stoppage-time as Scunthorpe head for a third-round tie at Stamford Bridge for the second time in 11 years, leaving Orient to rue their luck.
Scunthorpe boss Mark Robins will look to put his side's lucrative FA Cup third-round trip to Chelsea out of their mind as they face Sheffield United at Glanford Park. The Iron booked their memorable trip to Jose Mourinho-less west London with a second-round replay win over Leyton Orient in midweek.
Robins has Tommy Rowe back in contention after being cup-tied for the Orient tie, while Stephen Dawson, David Mirfin and Dave Syers are pushing to return. There are no fresh injury concerns with midfielder Gary McSheffrey remaining the only long-term absentee.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Scunthorpe United 0 Sheffield United 2
