Since the stewardship of Nigel Adkins begun last summer the Blades have made heavy weather of League One today, despite being bookies favourites, they lay 11th in table having won just one of their last five league matches but are only four points behind 6th place Bury. They were 3-0 winners over Fleetwood Town before losing their following two fixtures to Millwall (1-2) and at Crewe Alexandra (0-1), since then they have recovered slightly with two back-to-back draws with Southend United (2-2) and at Walsall (1-1) last Saturday.
Second half goals from Walsall's Tom Bradshaw and Sheffield United's Jose Baxter meant the two promotion-chasing Sky Bet League One teams had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Banks's Stadium. Bradshaw knocked in his 10th of the season and first in six games from Romaine Sawyers' cross to give the Saddlers a 51st minute lead. But Baxter swivelled on the edge of the box to whip a low left foot shot inside the near post to level on 66 minutes, and both sides went close to winning in the dying minutes.
With Jamal Campbell-Ryce lively on the left wing, Sheffield made a bright start, but Walsall gradually got on top and in the 18th minute Blades keeper George Long made triple saves to keep out shots from Kieron Morris, Bradshaw and Sawyers. Long then flew to his right to deflect a fierce drive from George Evans before Paul Downing headed against the far post and then Milan Lalkovic rattled he bar with a tremendous drive, cutting in from the left.
United tried to make an impact but a Baxter shot was blocked then Campbell-Ryce shot weakly following a corner. The Blades thought they should have a penalty when Che Adams went down in the box in the 58th minute but the referee was not impressed. Baxter drew his side level eight minutes later to earn the visitors a draw.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins has already confirmed two planned changes ahead of tonight's clash with the Shrews, struggling in defence he may recall on-loan Birmingham City defender David Edgar who has been missing with both a hamstring injury and most recently representing his Country Canada - it will be his first appearance in a 'white' shirt since October.
Young midfielder Louis Reed (foot) recovered from injury to be included on the substitute’s bench at the Banks Stadium and could be in line for a recall, as could Matt Done, Conor Sammon and Stefan Scougall.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Shrewsbury Town 0
