Two sides fighting at the top end of the Championship table will do battle in a crucial encounter at Bramall Lane on Saturday, as Sheffield United entertain Luton Town.
A victory away at Reading last time out saw the hosts move seven points clear of third place in the fight for automatic promotion, while their visitors remain fifth having won two of their last three league games.
Match preview
© Reuters
After a dominant run of form after the World Cup break, in which they cemented a place in the top two with a 10-match league unbeaten run including eight victories, the last few weeks have arguably been the toughest of the season for Sheffield United in their bid to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
The Blades' eye-catching run was halted by a 3-1 defeat at home to Middlesbrough in mid-February, with that result cutting the gap between themselves and third-placed Boro to seven points, while they were unable to bounce back in the following encounter, eventually falling to a 3-2 loss away at Millwall with their lead reduced even further as a result.
Paul Heckingbottom's side would then rebuild confidence with a 1-0 triumph at home to Watford, before booking a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a triumph over Tottenham Hotspur by the same scoreline, thanks to Iliman Ndiaye's goal, before travelling to take on fellow promotion-chasers Blackburn Rovers in a crucial contest last weekend.
The South Yorkshire outfit were unable to extend a new winning run and left Ewood Park empty-handed, with Harry Pickering's early goal making the difference, and with their lead over the chasing pack again reduced to four points, Heckingbottom's men would most recently travel to take on Reading in their game in hand over Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
Aiming to put their inconsistency behind them, the Blades succeeded in making a return to winning ways, as Ndiaye again netted the only goal of the game, and now level on games with the teams in pursuit of their spot with a seven-point lead, Sheffield United will be desperate to put a run of results together to strengthen their claim for promotion back to the top flight.
© Reuters
They certainly face a tough test, though, as Luton Town arrive in search of a result to strengthen their own position in the top six, with the Hatters also fighting to climb to the Premier League under the management of Rob Edwards.
A fine run of form between Boxing Day and early February, in which they picked up six victories from a seven-match span, put Luton in a particularly strong position on 48 points from 29 games, but their cause would then take a hit as they had to settle for back-to-back 1-1 draws with Coventry City and Preston North End before suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of runaway leaders Burnley.
It did not take the Hatters too long to return to winning ways, though, as they quickly arrested any potential slide with a 1-0 triumph away at Birmingham City in late February, thanks to Carlton Morris's goal, before they came from two goals down at home to fellow playoff-chasers Millwall to draw 2-2 through second-half goals from Elijah Adebayo and Luke Berry.
With that result keeping them ahead of the side in hot pursuit of a top-six spot, Luton set out to further strengthen their position last weekend when they hosted Swansea City at Kenilworth Road, and Morris again netted the only goal of the game, as he found the net prior to half time before the Hatters successfully saw out a 15th three-point haul of the campaign.
Such a result saw Edwards's men remain two points ahead of sixth-placed Norwich City and three above Millwall, who lead the chasing pack, and despite facing a tough trip on Saturday, they will know they cannot let up in their bid to secure a playoff place.
Team News
© Reuters
Sheffield United continue to deal with several enforced absentees, as Enda Stevens, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Jack O'Connell, Ben Osborn and Rhian Brewster are sidelined by injuries, although centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic will return from a two-match suspension to challenge Chris Basham for the starting spot on the right-hand side of a back three alongside John Egan and Jack Robinson.
Concerningly for the Blades, star forward Iliman Ndiaye limped off the pitch on Tuesday after netting his 11th league goal of the season, and if he is unable to feature from the outset, Billy Sharp will likely come into the front line to join Oli McBurnie, who also boasts 11 goals for the season in England's second tier.
Competition in midfield is rife, with Sander Berge again likely to join Oliver Norwood, leaving one place for John Fleck, Tommy Doyle and James McAtee, if deemed fit, to fight for, while George Baldock could replace Jayden Bogle in a right wing-back role if Heckingbottom opts to make rotations.
Key Luton Town defender Sonny Bradley has returned to contention and has been an unused substitute in recent Championship games after a long injury layoff, and it is yet to be seen whether he will be deemed fit to start, with Edwards more likely to take caution and introduce him from the bench and stick with the back three of Gabriel Osho, Tom Lockyer and Amari'i Bell.
At the other end of the pitch, the Hatters' line will again be led by Carlton Morris, who sits third in this season's Championship scoring charts with 14 league goals, with Elijah Adebayo again set to join the summer arrival.
Former Sheffield United man Luke Freeman remains sidelined by an injury, meaning Jordan Clark is bound to again operate in support of the front two, while key midfielder Alan Campbell will continue to play alongside Aston Villa loanee Marvelous Nakamba in the engine room.
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Basham, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Fleck, Lowe; McBurnie, Ndiaye
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Horvath; Osho, Lockyer, Bell; Drameh, Nakamba, Campbell, Doughty; Clark; Morris, Adebayo
We say: Sheffield United 2-1 Luton Town
Sheffield United do face a tough test on Saturday, but with renewed confidence from restoring their seven-point lead with an away win last time out, we fancy them to come out on top at Bramall Lane.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Sam Varley
