Sheffield United host Brentford in the Premier League this weekend and they will look to end their losing streak with a positive result at home.
The home side are coming into this game on the back of three consecutive defeats and the fans will be expecting a strong reaction from the players. They are at the bottom of the league table and they will need to start picking up points if they want to preserve their status as a top-flight club next season.
Meanwhile, Brentford crashed to a defeat against Brighton last time out and they will look to get back to winning ways as well. They are the better team here and Thomas Frank will be urging his players to stop up and deliver.
Brentford have lost three of their last four matches across all competitions and they need to rebuild their confidence and momentum now.
The Blades v the Bees! 🐝
A 2-0 victory for 10-men United when Brentford last visited Bramall Lane! 💪 pic.twitter.com/t5iAbHf2hx
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) December 8, 2023
Team News and Tactics
Sheffield United
Oliver Norwood is suspended along with Oliver McBurnie for this game. Other than that, Chris Basham is injured along with Rhys Norrington-Davies, John Egan, Tom Davies, Daniel Jebbison, George Baldock and Rhian Brewster.
The home team are likely to shape up in their usual 3-4-2-1 formation with Wes Foderingham in goal.
Anel Ahmedhodzic will start in the back three along with Jack Robinson and Auston Trusty. Jayden Bogle and Andre Brooks will start as the wing-backs. They will look to help out in the attack and then protect the central defenders.
Gustavo Hamer will start in midfield with Vinicius Souza. They will look to break up opposition attacks and add defensive steel to the side.
Cameron Archer will start with Jason McAtee in the attacking midfield and they will look to link up with Benie Traore in the attack.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Trusty; Bogle, Hamer, Souza, Brooks; Archer, McAtee; Traore
Brentford
The away side have a number of injury problems as well. They will be without Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey, Kevin Schade, Nathan Collins, Kristoffer Ager and Bryan Mbeumo.
Ivan Toney remains suspended.
Brentford will field a depleted lineup here in a 4-4-2 setup with Mark Flekken in goal.
Mads Roerslev and Saman Ghoddos will start as the full-backs. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Ethan Pinnock will start in central defence with Ben Mee.
Frank Onyeka and Shandon Baptiste will add pace and flair from the wide areas. In the middle of the park, Christian Norgaard will start alongside Vitaly Janelt. They will look to protect the defences and dominate the midfield contest.
Neal Maupay will lead the line along with Yoane Wissa.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Flekken; Roerslev, Pinnock, Mee, Ghoddos; Onyeka, Norgaard, Janelt, Baptiste; Maupay, Wissa
Key Stats
- Sheffield United have lost 9 of their last 11 matches (Premier League).
- Sheffield United have conceded at least 2 goals in 12 of their last 14 matches (Premier League).
- Sheffield United have been losing at both half-time and full-time in their last 3 matches (Premier League).
- 14 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
Key Player
Neal Maupay
The Brentford attacker will have to shoulder the goalscoring responsibility here in the absence of Toney and Mbeumo. He has the quality to punish Sheffield United’s vulnerable defence and he will look to add some cutting edge upfront.
Maupay has two goals and two assists in his four league starts this season and he is our key player to watch out for.
Prediction
Sheffield United 1-2 Brentford
Both teams will be desperate for the three points and this is likely to be a close contest.
Brentford are the better team on paper and they should be able to grind out the three points despite their injury woes.
Sheffield United are lacking in form and confidence right now and the Bees are likely to add their miseries here. A narrow away win is on the cards.
