Sheffield United and Bournemouth will be desperate for three points when they clash at Bramall Lane on Saturday.
The 2023/24 Premier League season resumes this weekend with Gameweek 13, with Manchester City and Liverpool kicking things off with a blockbuster clash at the Etihad. The action will then continue with five simultaneous fixtures, one of those featuring Sheffield United and Bournemouth at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United and Bournemouth are two of the worst teams in the Premier League this season, with both clubs likely to be a part of the relegation dogfight in the coming months. They are two of the five bottom-most outfits in the division and have struggled to rack up points thus far.
Sheffield United recently clinched their first win of the season and are on a two-game unbeaten run. That has helped them climb off the foot of the table to 18th. But the hosts are two spots behind Bournemouth, with the Cherries winning two of their last three Premier League games to rise to 16th in the standings. In addition, Everton’s recent sanction has helped their cause.
The most recent league clash between Sheffield United and Bournemouth at Bramall Lane ended in a goalless draw, with each team managing only two shots on target each. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Sheffield United
Paul Heckingbottom on Ben Osborn! 👇
"Tactically, he gets the game and has been really good. He's a really important player for us." pic.twitter.com/26VZiv6EId
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) November 23, 2023
Paul Heckingbottom has greeted positive updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Bournemouth on Saturday, the Sheffield United manager will be bereft of the services of seven first-team players.
Jayden Bogle (knee), Vinicius Souza (back), and James McAtee (knock) picked up injuries ahead of the international. But the three players have regained their fitness and will be available to take on Bournemouth. That is also the case with Anel Ahmedhodzic (thigh) and Oliver McBurnie (groin).
But Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh), John Egan (ankle), Max Lowe (ankle), Chris Basham (ankle), Tom Davies (hamstring), Daniel Jebbison (illness), and Rhian Brewster (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
Wes Foderingham is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Sheffield United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him. The central defensive partnership should feature the fit-again Anel Ahmedhodzic, Auston Trusty, and Jack Robinson. Jayden Bogle should also feature, taking his spot as the right wing-back, with Luke Thomas featuring on the opposite flank.
As for the midfield unit, Vinicius Souza and Oliver Norwood will stitch together a defensive-minded pairing in the double pivot. The duo’s presence will liberate James McAtee and Gustavo Hamer, with the duo supporting central striker Cameron Archer.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson; Bogle, Souza, Norwood, Thomas; McAtee, Hamer; Archer
Bournemouth
Unlike his counterpart in the Sheffield United dugout, Andoni Iraola has a new fitness concern hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Bramall Lane. The Bournemouth manager will be without six first-team players on Saturday.
Max Aarons is the latest absentee after he picked up a hamstring injury in the win over Newcastle United ahead of the international break. The Englishman has joined Darren Randolph (illness), Ryan Fredericks (calf), Emiliano Marcondes (foot), Alex Scott (knee), and Tyler Adams (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Full focus on #SHUBOU 🔜 pic.twitter.com/o89nPWHjtk
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) November 23, 2023
But there is some good news, as Philip Billing has recovered from a thigh injury to be available to take on Sheffield United. The Danish attacker will return to the starting eleven, featuring behind central striker Dominic Solanke. Marcus Tavernier and Antoine Semenyo should support the duo from the flanks.
As for the midfield department, Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook will pair up in the double pivot, looking to keep things tight and protect the defenders. Speaking of the backline, Ilia Zabarnyi and Marcos Senesi should be the two centre-backs, with Milos Kerkez and Adam Smith being the full-backs. Finally, Neto will take his spot between the sticks.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Christie, Cook; Semenyo, Billing, Tavernier; Solanke
Key Stats
- Bournemouth’s sole victory away to Sheffield United was 1-0 in the second tier in August 1987. The Cherries have lost six and drawn three of their 10 games away to the Blades in all competitions.
- Sheffield United have taken four points from their last two league matches, as many as in their previous 12 top-flight fixtures. The Blades have not gone three games unbeaten in the Premier League since July 2020.
- Bournemouth have taken just one point from a possible 15 on the road this term, conceding a league-high 17 away goals. The Cherries are in danger of becoming the fourth side to concede two or more goals in four of their first six away matches in a Premier League season and the first since Burnley in 2009.
- Sheffield United have the division’s worst defensive record, conceding 31 goals. Only Barnsley, who conceded 35 goals after 12 games in 1997-98, have let in more by this stage of a Premier League season.
- Bournemouth are unbeaten in all five league fixtures against newly-promoted opposition since returning to the Premier League in 2022 (W3 D2). Their last such defeat came at Sheffield United in February 2020.
Player to Watch
Dominic Solanke
Philip Billing and Dominic Solanke have been by far the standout performers for Bournemouth since they returned to the Premier League. But Solanke, in particular, has consistently delivered the goods in the last 18 months.
The 26-year-old has scored six goals in 12 Premier League appearances this season, matching his tally from 33 games last term. In addition, his shot conversion rate has risen from 8% to 18% across the two campaigns. So, his output will hold the key for Bournemouth on Saturday and the rest of the 2023/24 season.
Prediction
Sheffield United 1-2 Bournemouth
Saturday’s fixture is an early relegation six-pointer, with Sheffield United and Bournemouth desperately needing three points. Both teams have picked up form in the last few weeks and head into this game confident of climbing through the standings. And they should be evenly matched on the day at Bramall Lane.
Andoni Iraola’s men have dropped 11 points from winning positions this term, a joint league high with Brentford and Burnley. But while Sheffield United will threaten to add to that tally and continue their unbeaten run, the away side should hold on for a crucial three points. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 victory for Bournemouth.
