On the back of a late win away at Swansea City in midweek, Championship leaders Sheffield United will look to stretch their unbeaten run to nine league games on Saturday, when they travel to Deepdale to take on Preston North End.
Still serving a touchline ban, Preston boss Ryan Lowe will again watch from the stands after a 1-1 draw with Burnley on Tuesday, while their visitors managed to put a third straight victory on the board.
Match preview
© Reuters
Preston North End should be left relatively pleased by their start to the season, albeit with some frustration, as they went unbeaten in their first six league outings without conceding a single goal but only managed to score one at the other end and accumulated just eight points as a result.
A 1-0 win over Coventry extended their perfect defensive record and unbeaten run, with Emil Riis Jakobsen hitting his side's second league goal of the term to put their second three-point haul on the board, before their back line was finally penetrated in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Birmingham City.
On the back of that first defeat, Ryan Lowe's side turned their focus to a scheduled contest with Bristol City last weekend, but with the death of Queen Elizabeth II causing the postponement of all fixtures across the country, they would have to wait until Tuesday to return to action.
The Lilywhites hosted Burnley in a Lancashire Derby on Tuesday, and after going behind in the 10th minute, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis heading in for the Clarets, Preston quickly equalised, as Jordan Storey's header crept over the line, and they held on for a commendable point against their promotion-chasing neighbours.
Now sitting ninth on 12 points from nine games, with league-low tallies of goals scored and conceded with three and two respectively, Lowe's men will be keen to build on their defensive stability with more attacking prowess and put a third Championship win of the season on the board.
© Reuters
They face a particularly tough test, though, as league leaders Sheffield United arrive hoping to make it four wins on the bounce and nine games unbeaten in England's second tier.
Since an opening-day defeat at Watford, The Blades have established themselves in the fight at the summit of the Championship by collecting 20 points from the last eight outings, firstly displaying a formidable home record with wins over Millwall, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Reading at Bramall Lane alongside a 2-2 draw away at Middlesbrough and a 1-1 draw against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.
Paul Heckingbottom's side then put their first away win on the board to strengthen their position at the summit of the second tier, as Oli McBurnie and Sander Berge netted goals either side of half time to condemn Hull City to a 2-0 defeat, before seeing their game at home to South Yorkshire neighbours Rotherham United postponed last weekend.
On their return to action on Tuesday, the Blades made the trip to Swansea City, and the game looked set to end goalless until Rhian Brewster broke and set up Reda Khadra to net a 94th-minute winner, taking his side's tally to 20 points from nine league games as a result.
Now on the back of three straight wins and back-to-back triumphs away from home, Sheffield United will aim to continue building momentum and establish a stronger lead at the top of the Championship on Saturday.
- D
- D
- D
- W
- L
- D
- D
- L
- D
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Alongside attacker Sean Maguire, Preston North End centre-back Bambo Diaby has recently returned to contention after an injury, but Lowe has little reason to change the back three of Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay and Greg Cunningham, having continued their impressive defensive record since Andrew Hughes was sidelined.
Elsewhere, Ben Whiteman will continue to sit at the base of midfield, with Ryan Ledson also pushing to come in, while Alan Browne, Daniel Johnson and Ali McCann are all fighting to operate further forward.
While he is yet to find his shooting boots this season after hitting 16 Championship goals last term, Emil Riis Jakobsen should still be trusted to lead the line and should again partner Troy Parrott up front.
Sheffield United's injury problems do not seem to be improving, as defenders Max Lowe, Enda Stevens, Jack Robinson, Jack O'Connell, Ciaran Clark and Jayden Bogle all remain sidelined alongside Ben Osborn, John Fleck and Billy Sharp.
Given those absences, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Chris Basham and John Egan will again line up in a back three with Rhys Norrington-Davies having shifted back out to a left-wing-back role, while Manchester City loanee Tommy Doyle will continue to partner Oliver Norwood in midfield.
It is up front where Heckingbottom still has decisions to make, as Oli McBurnie, Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge have recently formed a threatening front three, while Rhian Brewster and Reda Khadra have both laid strong claims for starting spots after combining for the winning goal against Swansea on Tuesday, although they may be again be seen as dangerous assets to bring off the bench in the later stages.
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Cunningham; Potts, Whiteman, Johnson, Brady; Browne; Riis, Parrott
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Basham, Egan, Ahmedhodzic; Baldock, Norwood, Doyle, Norrington-Davies; Ndiaye, Berge; McBurnie
We say: Preston North End 0-1 Sheffield United
With Preston's faltering attack squaring off against the league's strongest defence other than their own, we do not anticipate the Lilywhites getting on the scoresheet and see the confident league leaders having enough to break down Lowe's men for a decisive goal and leave with a fourth straight win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
