Currently laying in the bottom four, Sheffield United supporters will no doubt see this weekend's opponents as 'easy pickings' in taking three points to help propel the Blades towards the Play-Offs. Having drawn 2-2, at the death at Fleetwood Town last weekend, the Blades are two victories away from now sixth spot Barnsley.
However, United have struggled to win points from sides currently in the bottom four. Of the current crop of relegation fodder (Blackpool, Oldham, Crewe Alexandra and Colchester United), the Red and White Wizards have won just 8 points from the 6 games played against these sides from a maximum 18 points on the table. Earlier in the season the Blades drew 1-1 at Boundary Park, whilst a single goal was enough to secure victory at the Lane in the FA Cup - Matt Done was the hero with goals in both fixtures.
A late Che Adams penalty earned Sheffield United a share of the spoils in controversial circumstances as the Blades drew 2-2 in their League One clash at 10-man Fleetwood Town. The Blades struck first, Fleetwood opened up as the ball was move quickly from right to left, Matt Done firing from the flank and slotting low past Chris Maxwell. The lead lasted barely two minutes and the hosts responded when Ash Hunter rose at the back post to nod home Victor Nirennold's inviting curled cross home.
The only other incident of note came just before the break when Fleetwood defender Joe Davis went down following a clash of heads in the box, the centre-half helped off blooded and bandaged after a lengthy delay for treatment. The home side very nearly grabbed the advantage after the break as David Ball drilled the ball in from the left, his cross bouncing back off the bar and dropping for Wes Burns, whose far-post header also rebounded off the woodwork.
Fleetwood - having stood firm in a Sheffield storm - grabbed the lead on the hour. John Brayford felled Ash Hunter wide on the left and Jimmy Ryan's resulting free-kick was flicked in off the post by Marcus Nilsson as the Swede netted his first goal for the club. The game turned when Fleetwood sub Nick Haughton was shown a late red card as he kicked the ball away following Jamille Matt's foul. And when Amari'i Bell clipped Flynn in the second minute of injury time, Adams was able to snatch a point from the penalty spot following another lengthy delay as keeper Chris Maxwell was struck by an object thrown from the crowd.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins could once again be without top striker Billy Sharp who missed last weekend's draw through illness. But fellow midfielder Martyn Woolford could be side-lined for longer than expected due to an ankle injury sustained at Rochdale a fortnight ago. Teenage midfielders Dominic Calvin-Lewin and Ben Whiteman are hoping to feature again after both stepped off the bench in the second half against Burton ten days ago, the latter making his first senior appearance.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Oldham Athletic 0
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