League One fixtures have been somewhat hit and miss for Sheffield United this season, they lay 7th in the table despite having picked up four points from their last three league encounters. After the dismal defeat at Port Vale last weekend, the Blades made a slight amends with the destruction of Nott's County on Tuesday night in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Three penalties were awarded to the hosts throughout the night, all positively despatched as United came out 5-1 winners.
Port Vale produced an impressive first-half performance and held firm after the break to claim a deserved 2-1 victory over Sheffield United. Vale made a confident start and took the lead in the 17th minute after United goalkeeper Mark Howard saved Colin Daniel's initial header. The loose ball fell back into the path of Daniel, who played a square pass for Byron Moore to sweep a low left-foot shot into the centre of goal from six yards.
Defender Richard Duffy denied Billy Sharp an equaliser shortly afterwards, but Vale dominated the rest of the first half and deservedly doubled their lead just before the interval. Uche Ikpeazu swept past a couple of half-hearted challenges to crash a right-foot shot from 18 yards, which struck the underside of the crossbar on its way into the right-hand side of Howard's net.
United brought on Terry Kennedy and Che Adams at half-time and should have reduced the arrears within two minutes when Vale keeper Jak Alnwick saved Sharp's shot from point-blank range. Vale responded and almost added a third in the 67th minute when Daniel's 14-yard strike rattled the crossbar.
The visitors then pulled a goal back with virtually the last kick of the match, when substitute Matt Done spun to fire a left-foot shot into the right-hand corner of Alnwick's net from the edge of the six-yard box.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins will be boosted by the returns of Stefan Scougall (calf), Terry Kennedy (knee) and Jamal Campbell-Ryce (ankle) as well as former Rochdale striker Matt Done who has now netted two goals in his last two appearances since returning from injury - no doubt he will be looking for a third today?
Like Sheffield United, the Dale advanced to the next round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy having beaten Chesterfield by two goals to one, by the time the two clubs kick-off today both United and Rochdale will know their opponents in the next round. In the league the Lancashire club are level on points with the Blades and by a slightly better goal difference are sixth in the table. They lost their last fixture in League One ended in a 3-1 defeat at home to Bradford City but previous to that they had lost just once at home.
Bradford picked up their first win in five League One games with a 3-1 victory over Rochdale at Spotland. The visitors grabbed the initiative towards the end of a first half short on chances. Tony McMahon's 34th minute free-kick was deflected into the path of Lee Evans and he poked home from close range. Dale drew level three minutes before the break, Callum Camps miscuing a 20-yard drive and the ball running kindly for Peter Vincenti to convert his sixth goal of the season.
However the visitors left Rochdale standing at the start of the second half. Devante Cole beat defender Jim McNulty with a sublime touch but failed to match it with a finish, Josh Lillis saving the striker's effort and denying Evans a second soon after. But the Bantams' pressure paid off when Steven Davies teed up Cole to score from close range on 59 minutes. And City extended their lead two minutes later when Evans' cross from the left was headed into his own net by Olly Lancashire.
Rochdale passed up a great opportunity to pull one back when Calvin Andrew blazed over the bar with an open goal at his mercy. Ben Williams in the Bradford goal kept out a volley from Matty Lund and a well-struck free-kick from the same player in the closing stages as City saw the game out.
The Spotland side will be looking for Peter Vincenti, who has netted 6 goals this season, to find the winner at Bramall Lane. Nigel Adkins should be expected to see a side gunning for a draw as our opponents, much like United, are hit by a long injury list. Boss Keith Hill has six players side-lined through injury; Calvin Andrew (foot), Rhys Bennett (hamstring), Joe Bunney (back), Andy Cannon (dead-leg), Ian Henderson (foot) and Olly Lancashire (groin). Meanwhile Callum Camps, having been called up to Northern Ireland's U21 side, will also be absent from the squad today.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Rochdale 0
