Four times FA Cup Winners Sheffield United have met Oldham Athletic only twice in the cup prior to this weekend's encounter. This occurred en-route to lifting the Cup in 1915. Having seen off Blackpool (2-1) in Round One victories were scooped up against Liverpool (1-0) and Bradford Park Avenue (1-0) before facing the Latics. At Oldham, on 6th March the referee blew up his whilst at full-time to a 0-0 score-line, forcing a replay at Bramall Lane seven days later. At the Lane the Blades were more successful as two goals from Kitchen and one from Fazackerley romped them to a 3-0 win. They went onto beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 in the semi-final at Villa Park and lastly Chelsea (3-0) in the Final at Old Trafford.
Without a win since 20 October, the Blades league form leaves little to be impressed about but a slight distraction in the FA Cup this weekend could give the 'Whites' a much needed boost. They came within a whisker of gaining three valuable points last Saturday but, following Barnsley's late leveller had to settle for a point instead.
Conor Hourihane atoned for a penalty miss by equalising deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for Barnsley from a 1-1 Sky Bet League One draw with Sheffield United at Oakwell. Matt Done went close for the visitors in only the second minute when his effort was tipped wide by keeper Adam Davies. Barnsley then enjoyed a decent spell with Adam Hammill curling an effort wide and Marley Watkins heading off-target.
Sam Winnall forced a good save from George Long with Lloyd Isgrove putting the rebound wide. United's Billy Sharp had a shot saved before Chris Basham struck, the former Blackpool player finding the net in the 16th minute with a header from a Bob Harris corner. Basham even had a chance to score a second after the break, but he put his effort wide.
Long protected United's lead when he made a fine save to keep out Hourihane's penalty - awarded following Neill Collins' foul on Hammill - on the hour mark. Winnall went close to equalising late on, heading against a post, before Hourihane levelled with a superb strike at the death.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins could opt to field a unchanged squad from which drew at Oakwell, but will more than likley re-introduce Mark Howard, Kieron Freeman, Kieran Wallace, Louis Reed, Conor Sammon and Ryan Flynn to the squad. They are without former Oldham midfielder Jose Baxter through injury whilst Stefan Scougall (hamstring) are both absent, as could Jamal Campbell-Ryce (hamstring) who pulled up last weekend and was forced to be substituted.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Oldham Athletic 1