Sheffield United reamin in the relegation zone despite a convincing 2-0 victory over relegation rivals Shrewsbury Town at Bramall Lane last Saturday. First-half goals from Ryan Flynn and Stefan Scougall gave Sheffield United a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Shrewsbury, ending a run of four league games without a win. Following a quiet start to the match, Flynn scored after 11 minutes with a low shot from inside the area after getting on the end of a cross from Scougall. Six minutes later Scougall put the hosts further ahead when his 20-yard effort saw the ball bounce in front of Chris Weale and evade the diving goalkeeper before going inside his right-hand post.
Jose Baxter threatened again for the Blades before the break, shooting wide from inside the area. Nigel Clough's side made a lively start to the second half with Jamie Murphy putting a shot wide on the run. Shrewsbury's best chance of the match came when Paul Parry slipped the ball through to Jon Taylor who only had Mark Howard to beat, but he shot wide of the target. Tom Eaves also put a low, angled drive wide and Taylor had a header comfortably saved by Howard.
Blades boss Nigel Clough will be boosted by the return of club Captain Michael Doyle who returns after serving a three match suspension following his dismissal at home to Fulham in the FA Cup. He missed the fixtures against Crewe Alexandra (0-3), Fulham (1-0, replay) and Shrewsbury Town (2-0) during his ban. Stephen McGinn is likley to lose his place should Doyle be re-installed, however the Scottish midfielder (McGinn) is suffering from a knock and may well be rested.
Possible Blades Line-Up (4-4-1-1):
Howard
Brayford - Maguire - Collins - Harris
Flynn - Doyle - Scougall - Murphy
Baxter
Porter
Striker Chris Porter (hamstring) is doubtful whilst Florent Cuvelier (knee) is sidelined for the season. Meanwhilse youngster Diego De Girolamo is expected to be retained on the substitutes bench. Striker Billy Paynter is cup-tied having previously featured in Rovers 3rd round defeat at home to Stevenage, Callum McFadzean and Elliot Whitehouse are both also cup-tied.
Nottingham Forest were impressive 3-0 winners away to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night to keep themselves firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion from the Championship. Although both sides enjoyed plenty of play and half-chances it was the Reds who were clinical when it mattered, Jamie Paterson breaking the deadlock just after the hour mark and netting a second to make the game safe before Darius Henderson his seconnd in as many games added futher gloss to the scoreline.
Our Nottinghamshire opponents have won the FA Cup only twice in their history and have yet to be beaten finalists. They first won the historic cup way back in 1898, beating arch rivals Derby County by three goals to one and in 1959 when they beat Luton Town 2-1 at Wembley in front of a 100,000 - Roy Dwight (cousin of famous singer Elton John) scored the first goal after only ten minutes but they were reduced to ten men after 33 minutes when Dwight broke his leg in a tackle with Brenden McNally and in a day and age of no substitutes were forced to carry on a man lighter.
Forest are expected to be without David Vaughan (knee), Chris Cohen (knee), Guy Moussi (calf), Dexter Blackstock (knee), Kelvin Wilson (back), Henri Lansbury (back) and Eric Lichaj (hernia) through injury.
Possible Reds Line-Up (4-4-2):
Darlow
Moussi- Reid - Fox - Halford
Lascelles- Djebbour -Paterson - Hobbs
Majewski - Cox
Reds boss Billy Davies is likely to turn to trio Greg Halford, Andy Reid and Darius Henderson to face their former club at Bramall Lane this weekend.
Halford was signed by Kevin Blackwell on a seasons long loan from Sunderland in August 2008, making his debut in a 1-0 defaeat at Birmingham City on the opening day of the season and was an inspirational signing and will be remembered in the history books as scoring the winning goal in the Play-Off's at home to Preston which took United to the final at Wembley - the Blades lost 1-0 to Burnley. Unable to afford his transfer fee he returned to the Stadium of Light having made 41 (+10) appearances and scored eight goals.
Reid was signed in October 2010 on loan from Sunderland initially by the late Gary Speed. He made his debut in a 1-0 home defeat to Coventry City (0-1) and scored in his final game - a 4-2 defeat at Norwich City before he returned back to the North East. He left the club having made 8 (+1) appearances and scored two goals.
Henderson was bought in a £2,000,000 deal from Watford in July 2008 by Kevin Blackwell and made his debut in a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City. He was unfortunate to be sent-off twice during his first season and was injured in the away (first leg) fixture at Preston in the Play-Off Semis which ruled him out injured beyond the final. The following season 'Big D' netted a hat-trick for the Blades in a dramatic 3-2 victory at Bristol City and was later dismissed at the City Ground in a 1-0 defeat as teh Blades struggled to make the top six.
However, on 18 April the striker was injured in a 1-1 Steel City derby clash at Hillsborough and this injured ruled him out for twelve months. Upon his return the Blades were fighting against relegation, a battle which they wouldn't win. He was dismissed for the fourth time in United colours at Watford (lost 0-3) and despite scoring twice at former club Reading in a 3-2 win couldn't save the Blades from relegation. In June 2011 he joined Millwall for an undisclosed fee and left the Lane having made 68 (+12) appearnces and scored 21 goals.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 1 Nottingham Forest 0