Due to recent ‘bad’ weather conditions which forced frozen pitch and snow to cancel games against Crawley, Brentford and an away match at Crewe Alexandra – the Blades will be forced to play out eight matches in the space of a month, which started with a draw (1-1) at Walsall last Saturday.
The Blades will face Crawley Town tomorrow before hosting Swindon Town on Saturday and Brentford on Tuesday – it will be these three games that will either make or break United. A win for United against Crawley and (providing results against Swindon and Brentford) are kind to Danny Wilson’s Blades then they could be looking at being third in the table prior to this weekend’s encounter.
It would leave them three points behind AFC Bournemouth and two matches in hand which will prove vitally important, but only worth in hand if maximum points can be obtained. Whilst it is mathematically possible it would now seem unlikely that the S2 club will rack up enough points to challenge Doncaster Rovers unless they were to hit bad form; but despite not being the strongest team in the league have managed to get results when it mattered and are now sitting top of the pile and look like regaining their Championship status at the first attempt.
However as far as the Bees are concerned they too will be looking to their next three games, due to Crewe Alexandra’s involvement in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy yesterday they have been forced to play there corresponding fixture this Wednesday, 24 hours after United.
But sadly the Blades have been less than impressive at home, they have won 11 matches along with 7 draws away from home, but at Bramall Lane have drawn 9 and won only 7 of the 19 games played. For the statto’s out there it doesn’t make for good reading, statistically (on this seasons form) the Blades on average should obtain a further ten points (6 at home and 4 away) from their remaining games which would easily qualify them for the play-offs but would struggle to make the top two.
In all United really need to start winning their home games otherwise it will be another heartbreaking year in the play-offs!
Midweek Fixtures (all Tuesday):
- MK Dons vs. Swindon Town- Crewe Alexandra vs. Brentford (Wed)- Doncaster Rovers vs. Carlisle United- Sheffield United vs. Crawley Town- Preston North End vs. Oldham Athletic
Home Away Overall # Team Pl W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A Pts GD 1Doncaster Rovers
42 10 5 6 26 20 13 4 4 33 20 23 9 10 59 40 78 +19 2Bournemouth
43 12 6 4 40 20 10 4 7 30 32 22 10 11 70 52 76 +18 3Yeovil Town
42 12 4 6 35 22 9 4 7 31 30 21 8 13 66 52 71 +14 4Brentford
41 13 6 2 34 19 6 8 6 20 22 19 14 8 54 41 71 +13 5Sheffield United
40 7 9 3 27 17 11 7 3 25 17 18 16 6 52 34 70 +18 6Swindon Town
41 8 9 4 37 14 10 5 5 27 17 18 14 9 64 31 68 +33
Source: Blades-Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
