Pick of the stats: Stoke City v Sheffield United
- Published
Play-off bound Sheffield United make the trip to Stoke City on Friday (20:00 BST) as they look to build momentum going into May's knock-out rounds.
The Blades missed out on automatic promotion after losing to Burnley on Saturday, taking both the Clarets and Leeds United out of reach to battle amongst themselves for the title.
Though, while United have more work to do if they are to leave the Championship, Stoke's efforts will be focused on staying in the second tier.
The Potters' 6-0 humbling against Leeds ended their unbeaten run of five league games and kept them in danger of relegation, just four points clear with only two games left to go.
Stoke City have lost their last two league meetings with Sheffield United, but have won their last two against them on home soil (1-0 in April 2022 and 3-1 in October 2022).
Having won this season's reverse fixture (2-0), Sheffield United could do the league double over Stoke City for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign.
Stoke City have won three of their last four home league matches (L1), as many victories as they managed in their previous 14 on home soil in the Championship (W3 D8 L3).
Sheffield United have lost four of their five league games in April (L1); their most in a single month in the Championship since December 2017 (also 4).
Sheffield United midfielder Sydie Peck has had more shots without scoring than any other player in the Championship this season (35).
