Sheffield United will host Aston Villa at Bramall Lane on Saturday, looking to end their winless run with a positive result at home.
Sheffield United are at the bottom of the league table, and they will need to start picking up points if they want to secure safety this season, starting with the game against Aston Villa. The Blades are up against a struggling Aston Villa side right now, and this is a golden opportunity for them to grind out a positive result at home.
The Villans were exceptional during the first half of the season. But their form has dipped in recent weeks. Aston Villa have picked up just one win from their last five league matches, and they will need to bounce back strongly if they want to stay in the race for Champions League qualification.
Aston Villa have a poor record against Sheffield United, and this could be a tricky outing for the West Midlands club. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Sheffield United
The home team will be without the services of Chris Basham, John Egan, and George Baldock because of injuries. Chris Wilder will be without Rhian Brewster as well, with the former Liverpool striker suspended.
The home team are likely to shape up in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Wes Foderingham in goal. Jayden Bogle and Auston Trusty will be deployed in the full-back positions, and they will look to keep things compact defensively and help out in the attack.
Anel Ahmedhodzic will start at the heart of the defence along with Jack Robinson. Vinicius Souza will start as the defensive midfielder here, and he will look to protect the central defenders and break up opposition attacks.
Gustavo Hamer will start in central midfield along with Ben Slimane. The two players will look to add creativity and control to the side. James McAtee and Ben Brereton will side in the wide areas, and they will look to add creativity and flair from the flanks. Oliver McBurnie will lead the line for Sheffield United against Aston Villa.
Probable Lineup (4-1-4-1): Foderingham; Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Trusty; Souza; McAtee, Hamer, Slimane, Brereton; McBurnie
Aston Villa
The visitors are without Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings, who are ruled out for the foreseeable future with knee injuries. Jhon Duran is sidelined with an injury for a few weeks as well.
Aston Villa are likely to shape up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Emiliano Martinez in goal. Ezri Konsa and Alex Moreno will start as the full-backs here, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch.
Diego Carlos will form the central defensive partnership alongside Clement Lenglet. In the middle of the park, Douglas Luiz will start alongside Boubacar Kamara, and the two players will look to protect the side defensively and break up opposition attacks.
John McGinn and Leon Bailey will be deployed in the wide areas. They will look to add drive and creativity to the side. Ollie Watkins will lead the line alongside Moussa Diaby. The two players will look to hold up the ball and bring others into the play. They will look to add to their goal scoring tally as well.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Lenglet, Moreno; McGinn, Luiz, Kamara, Bailey; Diaby, Watkins
Key Stats
- Aston Villa have failed to win five of the last six matches against Sheffield United.
- Sheffield United have won their last three home games against Aston Villa in all competitions.
- Sheffield United have conceded at least twice in their last four league matches.
- 12 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two sides.
- Sheffield United have conceded ten goals in their last three matches across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Ollie Watkins
The 28-year-old has been one of the best strikers in the league this season, and he has 12 goals and eight assists across all competitions. Aston Villa will need him to create goalscoring opportunities and get on the scoresheet himself.
They need Watkins to step up to grind out all three points, and it remains to be seen whether Watkins can deliver. The English international scored against Newcastle United in the 3-1 defeat and he will look to continue his rich vein of form here as well.
Prediction
Sheffield United 1-2 Aston Villa
Neither side are in particularly impressive form right now, and this is likely to be a close contest. Both teams will be desperate to pick up a win here, but Aston Villa have a better team on paper and they will be determined to grind out a positive result.
Regardless of their recent form and a poor head-to-head record against the Blades, Aston Villa should be able to grind out a narrow victory away from home against Sheffield United. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 victory for Unai Emery and his charges.
