Sheffield United (H) League One Tues 17 Mar, 7.45pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

Everything relates to Wembley at the moment of course and our last League One fixture before next Sunday sees us entertaining Nigel Clough's Blades, but their recent form has suggested more of the Blunts than Blades, to be honest. They signed Steven Davies (striker) on loan from Blackpool a couple of weeks ago but even he was substituted last Saturday. The Walsall contingent signed by Clough have all gone their separate ways so there won't be any ex-Saddlers celebrating a la Grigg. Leading scorer McNulty has 12 goals to his name, but remained on the bench last week-end - United's recent form:

21 Feb Coventry City (H) Drew 2-2
24 Feb Rochdale (A) Won 1-2
28 Feb Crawley (A) Drew 1-1
3 Mar Peterborough United (H) Lost 1-2
7 Mar Fleetwood (H) Lost 1-2
14 Mar Scunthorpe United (A) Drew 1-1

That return of 6 points from the last 18 is nowhere near promotion material and is only 1 point better than ours, but it should be remembered that United did bring off a 1-3 win at Ashton Gate on Valentine's day which at least shows that Bristol City are not impregnable.

Dean Smith would appear to have almost a full squad to choose from, the only definite absentee being Rico Henry. Sam Mantom lasted the 90 minutes against the Dons, and by all accounts was still going strongly at the final whistle. Wembley will no doubt weigh heavily in players' minds, but there is a real need to gather points so as not to be looking over our shoulder towards the end of the season. I think that with everyone trying to impress and stake their claim for a Wembley start we could re-invent Fortress Bescot and win this one 2-0, with goals from Hiwula and Sawyers (who is due for one!!).

[Exile]

About time we won. 1-0 us, in a game with no top gear.

[Soton Saddler]

2 - 1 (Forde, Jordy).

That should see us needing one win in nine to avoid the drop. Hopefully we'll get a few more than that - a top half finish would be great!!

[YGASaddler]

2-0 Hiwula and Bradshaw

[JonnyOwen]

Benning at LB has me scared, lads mistake prone and leaves us wide open down the right. Lets hope he puts in a shift for us to show us he is good enough to challenge Rico and Taylor.

[PT]

Benning at LB has me scared, lads mistake prone and leaves us wide open down the right. Lets hope he puts in a shift for us to show us he is good enough to challenge Rico and Taylor.

I agree Jonny. I know you're an admirer of Cook but he offers absolutely no protection to his full-back which leaves us even widerer open down that flank.

But, they hate playing us. Our two fixtures every year serve as an ongoing reminder that they are third division all the time. So here's to a 1-0 victory completely against the run of play and the result of a dodgy decision. I love it when Clough and them lot feel aggrieved. It suits them.

An interesting foot-note to tomorrow night is that Wednesday are at Wolves. Not sure that's the wisest planning, especially as I'm down on public transport tomorrow.

[the fickle one]

Smith will leave a few out, taylor tight calves And wouldn't surprise me if he left Bradshaw out incase

[BathSaddler]

A 2-1 home defeat, with Forde for us, in front of 4,449, including 1,200 Hoofers.

[SoccerHQ]

Good record against these in recent seasons, proper bogey team for Sheffield.

Their only ambition seems to be attempting to win every single game 1-0 in the most boring way possible so first goal tomorrow night is key as they hardly ever win when they fall behind.

1-1zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Tyldesley_saddler]

Benning at LB has me scared, lads mistake prone and leaves us wide open down the right. Lets hope he puts in a shift for us to show us he is good enough to challenge Rico and Taylor.

I agree Jonny. I know you're an admirer of Cook but he offers absolutely no protection to his full-back which leaves us even widerer open down that flank.

But, they hate playing us. Our two fixtures every year serve as an ongoing reminder that they are third division all the time. So here's to a 1-0 victory completely against the run of play and the result of a dodgy decision. I love it when Clough and them lot feel aggrieved. It suits them.

An interesting foot-note to tomorrow night is that Wednesday are at Wolves. Not sure that's the wisest planning, especially as I'm down on public transport tomorrow.

That could be tasty in Brum/Wolves tomorrow night then :!:
Just hope West Midlands Police have some sense and try to keep them apart.

[SoccerHQ]

Benning at LB has me scared, lads mistake prone and leaves us wide open down the right. Lets hope he puts in a shift for us to show us he is good enough to challenge Rico and Taylor.

I agree Jonny. I know you're an admirer of Cook but he offers absolutely no protection to his full-back which leaves us even widerer open down that flank.

But, they hate playing us. Our two fixtures every year serve as an ongoing reminder that they are third division all the time. So here's to a 1-0 victory completely against the run of play and the result of a dodgy decision. I love it when Clough and them lot feel aggrieved. It suits them.

An interesting foot-note to tomorrow night is that Wednesday are at Wolves. Not sure that's the wisest planning, especially as I'm down on public transport tomorrow.

That could be tasty in Brum/Wolves tomorrow night then :!:
Just hope West Midlands Police have some sense and try to keep them apart.

Cheers for that. I'm normally in New Street around half 6 most nights getting home after work so yeah I think I'll catch the bus tomorrow night getting back. :lol:

Bet they're glad they closed the Bilston/Darlaston line years ago so you can't get to Wolverhampton quickly via the Bescot line anymore as it would be made for nights like tomorrow night....

[Pedagogue]

Just hope West Midlands Police have some sense ...

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I do love an optimist!

[<Nat>]

Just hope West Midlands Police have some sense ...

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I do love an optimist!

The saying, 'can't see the forest for the trees' comes to mind with the police

[saddla]

Benning at LB has me scared, lads mistake prone and leaves us wide open down the right. Lets hope he puts in a shift for us to show us he is good enough to challenge Rico and Taylor.

I agree Jonny. I know you're an admirer of Cook but he offers absolutely no protection to his full-back which leaves us even widerer open down that flank.

But, they hate playing us. Our two fixtures every year serve as an ongoing reminder that they are third division all the time. So here's to a 1-0 victory completely against the run of play and the result of a dodgy decision. I love it when Clough and them lot feel aggrieved. It suits them.

An interesting foot-note to tomorrow night is that Wednesday are at Wolves. Not sure that's the wisest planning, especially as I'm down on public transport tomorrow.

That could be tasty in Brum/Wolves tomorrow night then :!:
Just hope West Midlands Police have some sense and try to keep them apart.

Cheers for that. I'm normally in New Street around half 6 most nights getting home after work so yeah I think I'll catch the bus tomorrow night getting back. :lol:

Bet they're glad they closed the Bilston/Darlaston line years ago so you can't get to Wolverhampton quickly via the Bescot line anymore as it would be made for nights like tomorrow night....

The Sheffield to Birmingham line is going to be a right barrel of laughs :lol:

[Louise]

Hope we can put in a good performance before Wembley, 1-1.
Last home game at night was awful so Im hopeful of watching better tonight.

[Wragbyred]

A 2-1 home defeat, with Forde for us, in front of 4,449, including 1,200 Hoofers.

Can see them bringing less than 1000, I know Blades that went to Scunny on Saturday, who wanted to refund the tickets they have for tonight because they were that poor.
Can see this being a 2-0 or 3-0

[Rushall Saddler]

A 2-1 home defeat, with Forde for us, in front of 4,449, including 1,200 Hoofers.

Can see them bringing less than 1000, I know Blades that went to Scunny on Saturday, who wanted to refund the tickets they have for tonight because they were that poor.
Can see this being a 2-0 or 3-0

That poor that they got a 1-1 against a side that tanked us 4-1 at home. :shock:

[Tom_1992]

1-1

Done for them and Forde for us.

4,456 with 878 from Sheffield.

As a few have mentioned I think we might see a couple of changes, with possibly Taylor, Chambers and maybe Bradshaw being rested.

[tipton saddler]

Its o'donnell they need to rest because i can see him being busy on sunday. Wrap him up in cotton wool lol. Having said that ro'd will want to play tonite being a wednesday fan. On a more serious note I Can defo see tom and andy taylor being rested tonite although andy taylor on crutches would probably be better than benning. Hopefully their poor form continues and we can turn them over. 2-1 to us, downing and jordy with one in each half.

[m&m]

Rest players. Seriously?
We could be 5 off the drop after tonight!
Winning tonight would be as important as Sunday for me as just getting to Wembley is all I wanted.

If this coincides with getting relegated it's not so good after all...

[cumbria-saddler]

Team -
O'Donnell
Purkiss - O'Connor - Downing - Benning
A Chambers - Mantom
Forde - Sawyers - Cook
Hiwula

Subs - Baxendale , Cain , MacGillivray , J Chambers , Flanagan , Bakayoko , Grimes

[Welsh_Saddler]

Blades are the clear favourites with the bookies: Match odds at kick-off.....

Walsall to win: 5/2

The draw: 11/5

Sheffield Utd to win: 23/20

:?

[cumbria-saddler]

2-1 Walsall

Hiwula , and Cain from the bench, and some lump for them.

Nigel Clough to moan at something after the game.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Elsewhere, a very early goal sees Chesterfield 1 Gillingham 0 .... (Edit.... now 2-0)

and Port Vale 1 Crawley 0

Oh dear... here we go.... Walsall 0 Sheffield United 1 around 10 min - who was saying about Jose Baxter???? :evil:

[chestersaddler]

Cack :evil:

[BathSaddler]

Uphill struggle already... :(

Nice of us to give an out-of-form side an early boost :roll:

[Welsh_Saddler]

Oldham Ath 0 M K Dongs 2

Oh, and Dingles 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (pen) :roll:

Notts County 1 Rochdale 1

Bristol City 2 Crewe Alex 0 - practising for Sunday................

Preston North End 1 Peterborough United 0

[belgiansaddler]

Why on earth is benning playing, I thought he was in York? And where is Bradshaw? God forbid hope he is not injured again ffs

[Welsh_Saddler]

On 38 minutes, our FIRST accurate attempt on goal - a Jordy header, saved by the keeper.

Doncaster Rovers 1 Swindon Town 0

Just on half-time, and Jordy Hiwula is booked!!! :(

Doyle (Blades) also booked, one minute later.

[BathSaddler]

Why on earth is benning playing, I thought he was in York? And where is Bradshaw? God forbid hope he is not injured again ffs

I can only presume resting Taylor, or he is nursing a knock. Putting Benning in is just asking for trouble, he's not good enough defensively.