The Blades will be looking to get back into winning ways when they come up against Fleetwood Town this Saturday after leaving the Lane heavily disappointed on Tuesday night following a 2-1 defeat to Peterborough United. Despite the result United still remain 5th in the table.
Managerless Peterborough came from behind to win 2-1 at promotion-chasing Sheffield United following two late goals. Matt Done had put the hosts in front midway through the second half before Jack Payne and substitute Conor Washington struck at the death. Home striker Marc McNulty had the first chance of the match with a shot which was touched over by keeper Ben Alnwick. Peterborough's Kyle Vassell hit the side-netting with a shot at the other end.
The hosts threatened with Jamie Murphy's effort forcing Alnwick to use his legs to keep the ball out and the keeper also saved Michael Doyle's try from just outside the area. Vassell put a far-post shot wide before Done scored an opportunistic goal 65 minutes in. After dispossessing Ricardo Santos, Done saw his shot parried by Alnwick and reacted smartly to head the rebound over the keeper and into the far corner of the net. Peterborough skipper Payne went close to equalising with a long-range drive which hit the outside of Iain Turner's right-hand post. But Payne levelled with a 20-yard effort two minutes from time and substitute Washington then struck a 90th-minute winner, bursting into the area before smashing the ball past Turner to complete a stunning late turnaround.
Blades boss Nigel Clough welcomes back Jose Baxter following a three match suspension. The midfielder was dismissed with a straight red card in the 2-2 home draw with Coventry City and is likely to be recalled. Meanwhile striker Michael Higdon (hamstring), midfielder Stefan Scougall (knee), Ryan Flynn (hamstring) and defender Terry Kennedy (knee) all look to set to sit out through injury. The Blades chief may hand a debut to sttriker Steve Davies who joined on loan from Blackpool yesterday - he may also be bold and lead two strikers in attack!
Fleetwood were twice pegged back as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Scunthorpe. Town have been hindered by a lack of goals this season but were off the mark early against the Iron, Jamie Proctor thundering home a back-post header from Nick Haughton's free-kick after Gareth Evans tumbled on the edge of the box. Evans could have added a second a minute later with Proctor picking out his run from the right channel but Luke Daniels made a smart save to keep the hosts at bay.
At the other end Chris Maxwell produced a sharp save to deny Gary McSheffrey as he led a quick breakaway, before Scunthorpe levelled right on half-time. The visitors broke in numbers and Isaiah Osborne's well-timed pass gave McSheffrey time to place his shot into the corner from 18 yards. The home side hit back when Josh Morris hit a curling effort from the edge of the box into the top corner. But Scunthorpe levelled again within two minutes when a deflection took George Evans' shot past Maxwell.
Having reserected from non-league football the Cod Army have never met Sheffield United in a professional meeting at Bramall Lane. In our first ever encounter at Highbury in December last year the two teams drew 1-1. Town boss Graham Alexandrer will have midfielder Antoni Sarcevic and defender Stephen Crainey available after suspension whilst new signing Akil Wright, 18 from non-league Ilkeston Town may make his debut.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Fleetwood Town 0
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