Sheffield United vs Birmingham City. Sky Bet Championship.
Bramall LaneAttendance27,427.
Saturday 25 November 2017 17:46, UK
Sheffield United defender George Baldock could return to contention for the home game against Birmingham.
Wing-back Baldock has missed the last three games due to a hamstring strain, but is expected to be included in boss Chris Wilder's squad. Wilder has no new major injury concerns following the midweek defeat in a nine-goal thriller against Fulham, but could make changes, with Samir Carruthers and David Brooks among those pushing for recalls.
Midfielder Paul Coutts is out for the season after recently breaking a leg, while striker Ched Evans (ankle) and defender Kieron Freeman (knee) are long-term absentees.
Birmingham will check on the fitness of midfielders Craig Gardner and Stephen Gleeson. Gardner has missed the last two matches with a calf injury while Gleeson was not risked at Middlesbrough on Wednesday night after a thigh problem forced him off against Nottingham Forest.
Che Adams and David Davis were replaced at half-time against Boro but both substitutions were thought to be tactical decisions by Blues boss Steve Cotterill, rather than because of any injury to either player. David Stockdale returned to the squad in midweek after a lengthy injury lay-off but Maxime Colin, Isaac Vassell and Carl Jenkinson remain out.
This is Sheffield United's best start to a Championship season since recording 44 points from their opening 18 games in 2005-06, when they won automatic promotion to the Premier League.
This is the first league meeting between the sides since March 2009, with the Blades winning 2-1 in a Championship fixture with goals from Danny Webber and David Cotterill, the latter now playing for the Blues.
Birmingham haven't won a league match at Bramall Lane since a 2-1 victory in March 2000, losing all three matches since.
Birmingham have scored a league-low nine goals so far in their 18 games this season - their lowest ever goal total at this stage of a Football League campaign.
Leon Clarke (12) has already scored more league goals this term than in 11 of his previous 14 campaigns in the Football League. The journeyman striker's best ever haul is 19 goals in 2012-13.
Birmingham City have won just once in their last 15 away league games (D4 L10) and have lost eight of their last nine on the road (D1).
What a mad game it was at Bramall Lane against Fulham on Tuesday night! Nine goals, two hat-tricks, late drama, it had it all. Sheffield United will just be disappointed that they were on the wrong side of it!
Chris Wilder's side usually bounce back quickly from defeats, though, and Birmingham could be ideal opposition for them in that respect. They're still finding their feet under Steve Cotterill and this is a home banker for me, especially with the goalscoring form that Leon Clarke is in.
Prutton predicts: 2-1 with Leon Clarke to score first (20/1 with Sky Bet)
