Since losing by three goals to one at Southend United on 30th March, the Blades have gone on a mini run which has seen them undefeated in their last three matches, claiming four points from two of the top six clubs. In back-to-back home fixtures Nigel Adkins Sheffield United firstly claimed a 2-0 win over Walsall, Basham and Sharp with the goals whilst they then went onto record a 0-0 draw with Gillingham.
Those two games without defeat had given United a slim chance in reaching the play-offs come May. The gap was shortened last Saturday with a convincing victory at Chesterfield in the early kick-off on police advice with results elsewhere putting the Blades within 6 points of the play-offs.
Chesterfield remain in relegation trouble after they were outplayed by Sheffield United who cruised to a 3-0 victory at the Proact Stadium. Alex Baptiste gave United an early lead before a Tommy Lee error allowed Che Adams to make it two and the striker laid on the third for Billly Sharp in the second half. United started strongly and went ahead in the fourth minute when David Edgar headed a corner back across goal for Baptiste who turned the ball over the line.
A mistake by Lee gifted United a second in the 35th minute when his sliced clearance fell to Adams who scored from 35 yards with the goalkeeper stranded. United should have scored a third in first-half stoppage time when Ryan Flynn volleyed over from 10 yards but Chesterfield conceded again on the hour when Adams picked up a loose ball and crossed for Sharp to finish from 12 yards. Jay O'Shea had a shot well saved by George Long but Chesterfield rarely threatened and Lee did well to keep out a deflected Flynn shot in the 71st minute.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins looks set to have the same group of players to choose from as he did for the previous three outings, and could feature the same XI for the fourth consecutive fixture. John Brayford remains side-lined by the calf problem that may have brought the defender's season to a premature end. The other man still out injured is midfielder Kieran Wallace, who last featured for the first team in December.
Tonight's fixtures: Barnsley v Peterborough United, Burton Albion v Wigan Athletic, Rochdale v Gillingham, Scunthorpe United v Bury, Shrewsbury Town v Sheffield United, Southend United v Oldham Athletic, Millwall v Fleetwood Town, Crewe Alexandra v Colchester United, Coventry City v Bradford City, Walsall v Swimndon Town, Chesterfield v Doncaster Rovers.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Shrewsbury Town 0 Sheffield United 2
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