With the International weekend putting a halt to Sheffield United's home fixture with Colchester United, the Blades found themselves slip to third in the league. Despite an absent United, they found that results elsewhere were not too damaging and found that they only slipped just one spot.
It leaves the Blades victory at Hartlepool United in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy as there last competitive action, where after Ryan Flynn, making his first appearance of the season, scored after only 6 minutes. In the second half Fenwick (50) levelled for the home side, and with the scores locked at 90 minutes, the game went to penalties. George Long was the hero, he saved two spot kicks as the Blades went through 4-3 and will face Nott's County at Bramall Lane in the next round.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins will be boosted by the return of quartet, Chee Adams, David Edgar, Louis Reed and Callum McFadden, whom all represented their Country in last weekend's internationals. They will however be without James Wallace (muscle problem) through injury.
Sheffield United vs. Bury - League One
Saturday, 12 September 2015 - Kick-Off: 3.00PM
Having clinched automatic promotion on the final day of last season, Bury have settled in well to life back in League One and currently lay 12th in the table. Their victory over table toppers Walsall last Saturday came as a huge surprise to the neutrals, but a long way for the Shakers to avoid an early relegation scare.
Battling Bury stunned Walsall by handing them a 1-0 defeat at the Banks's Stadium as the curse of winning the manager of the month award hit Dean Smith. It was the Saddlers' first league defeat of the season and the first league win for the Shakers who defended superbly once they went ahead in the sixth minute with a strike from Craig Jones. Bury goalkeeper Rob Lainson was also in superb form, pulling off several brave saves in stoppage time.
Bury made a determined start and deserved the opening goal which came from a quick counter, Leon Clarke winning a header on the edge of the box and Jones lashing home a right drive from an angle which fizzed low past home keeper Craig MacGillivray. Walsall dominated exchanges after that shock and Jacob Mellis needed attention after blocking a fierce volley from Sam Mantom while in the 23rd minute Lainson pulled of a superb flying save to keep out Mantom's rising drive.
The Saddlers totally dominated the second half but couldn't find a way to break through and in the fourth minute of stoppage time Tom Soares fluffed an easy chance to add another for Bury when he mis-kicked after breaking clean through.
Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Ryan Lowe will be absent from the Shakers squad to face the Blades, Bury boss David Flitcroft has confirmed, after the forward suffered a re-occurrence to an earlier calf injury and will sit out another 4 weeks at least. Meanwhile, after recovering from injury, Joe Riley is expected to start.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 3 Bury 1
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