Sheffield United

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Coventry produced a remarkable comeback after going two goals behind to earn a 2-2 draw at league leaders Sunderland in their first game since Mark Robins was sacked last time out.

The managerless Sky Blues are just one point above the drop zone and face another stern test when they welcome high-flying Sheffield United on Saturday who are joint top and have won four on the bounce.

• Coventry City have lost just one of their last nine home league games against Sheffield United (W6 D2), netting 3+ goals in four of those matches.

• Sheffield United have failed to score in two of their last four league games against Coventry, having found the net in nine of their previous 10 against them. They did win the last such meeting between the sides 3-1 in December 2022, however.

• Coventry City have lost nine home Championship matches in 2024 – they've only lost 10 home league games in four previous calendar years, most recently in 2003.

• Sheffield United have spent 51% of their Championship games in the lead this season, the highest percentage of any side - they’ve also trailed for the lowest percentage (4.4%, just 65 minutes).

• Coventry's Jack Rudoni has made 295 passes that start in the attacking third of the pitch in the Championship this season, with only Luton's Alfie Doughty making more (336).

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Sheffield United midfielder Sydie Peck dazzled on his international debut for England Under-20s during their 4-0 victory over Germany on Friday.

The 20-year-old earned his first call-up after fellow Blade Oliver Arblaster was forced to withdraw with a knee injury and made a big impression, scoring his first international goal with a header from a set-piece.

Peck also had heavy involvement in two other goals, seeing his shot deflected into the net for England's second by Max Dean and providing a headed assist for Will Lankshear to score the fourth.

Meanwhile, on-loan winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi earned his first cap for England Under-21s during Friday's 0-0 draw with Spain.

It was also goalless in Australia's World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia on Thursday as Blades centre-back Harry Souttar helped the Socceroos keep a clean sheet. Souttar's Australia visit Bahrain in their next qualifier on Tuesday.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United striker Kieffer Moore has withdrawn from Wales' Nations League games against Turkey and Iceland this month because of injury.

The 32-year-old sustained a calf strain during the Blades' trip to Bristol City six days ago and was not included in the matchday squad for Sunday's Steel City derby victory.

Before the game against Sheffield Wednesday, Moore told BBC Radio Sheffield he was "taking each day as it comes" but was "hopeful" for a quick recovery.

The Blades are joint leaders of the Championship, behind Sunderland in top sport on goal difference.

Chris Wilder's side are next in action at Coventry City on 23 November following the international break.

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Sheffield Wednesday's Josh Windass admits he is taking a risk by having his hair cut by his Sheffield United-supporting barber ahead of this weekend's Steel City Derby.

The midfielder will experience his first Sheffield derby at Bramall Lane on Sunday.

"My barber is a Blades fan so I'm hoping he doesn't butcher me before the weekend," Windass told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I told him to make sure he doesn't ruin my haircut but he said he can't promise anything so we'll see how we go."

The 30-year-old played and scored for Rangers in an Old Firm derby against Celtic in 2018 and expects the experience at the weekend to be similar.

"I would compare Sheffield to Glasgow in that it's like a goldfish bowl and you're either a Wednesday fan or a United fan," Windass added.

"My goal in the Old Firm game was in a defeat so if I can score a winner in a derby then that would be amazing but the aim isn't for me to score the winner, it's for the team to win and if that comes by me then brilliant."

Despite this being the first Sheffield derby in more than five years, Windass is well aware of the intense rivalry between the two clubs.

"I've got close friends who're Wednesday fans and they're telling me they won't go to the game because it's at their stadium," he said.

"But I'm looking forward to sampling the atmosphere and if it's anything like the Old Firm then I can't wait."

You can catch Football Heaven: Steel City Derby Special on BBC iPlayer or BBC Sounds.

Former Blades manager Neil Warnock and Owls legend Chris Waddle are no strangers to the Steel City derby.

The two have been speaking on BBC Radio Sheffield's Football Heaven: Steel City Derby Special about just how much the battle for local bragging rights means to them.

"I remember people saying it's just another game and I thought 'what are they talking about?' - it's not," Warnock said.

"The rivalry - no matter what you do, whether you're bottom or top of the league, it doesn't matter in these games. It's who wants it more, who can play on the day."

As for how Sunday afternoon at Bramall Lane is going to pan out, Waddle finds his former side an unknown component in his prediction calculations.

"Going into the derby, you know what you're going to get from United. Very organised, very drilled," Waddle said.

"I don't know how Wednesday will perform, they are such an unpredictable team.

"What you are seeing from Sheffield United so far this season is consistency and I think what you've seen from Wednesday is inconsistency.

"I think if Wednesday get a draw or a win - fantastic! It'll be a great result for them."

Warnock lists United as "favourites" but feels that "Wednesday can beat anyone on their day" - though he does think that the Blades have something special up their sleeve with keeper Michael Cooper.

"For me, he should be in the Premier League and he might be next year. He's one of the best keepers I've seen," Warnock said.

You can catch Football Heaven: Steel City Derby Special in full on BBC iPlayer or BBC Sounds.

A special Sunday afternoon awaits Sheffield as the Blades host the Owls in the first Steel City derby for more than five-and-a-half years.

Join a star-studded line-up of Chris Basham, Lee Bullen, Neil Warnock and Chris Waddle as they look ahead to this weekend's showdown at Bramall Lane on BBC Radio Sheffield's Football Heaven at 18:00 GMT on Thursday.

Not in the area? No bother. You can watch and listen online on the BBC Sport website and app, on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has praised his team for 'going right to the end' in their late, late 2-1 win at Bristol City.

The Blades scored in the 86th and 98th minute to come from behind and move up to second place in the Championship.

"I didn't think it was a smash and grab, we just needed to raise our levels at half-time and we couldn't so we made some changes," Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I thought we started playing in the last 20 minutes after we went 1-0 down.

"Credit to the players, it's nothing to do with myself or the coaching staff, the players put themselves in that position through decision making."

Wilder's side now take a three match winning streak into Sunday's Steel City derby against Sheffield Wednesday.

"What you've seen is a team that goes right to the end.

"The players were extremely brave, went for the winner and they were memorable scenes for the supporters who've made a long journey on a Tuesday night."

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has said Sunday's Steel City derby will not affect his team line-up for Tuesday's trip to Bristol City.

The Blades are currently in the middle of a three-match week, which started with an impressive 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday lunchtime.

However, Wilder is not tempted to rotate his squad at Ashton Gate before his side's crunch match with city rivals Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend.

"I haven't thought about Sunday at all in terms of selection," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"The whole process has gone into Bristol City because they are a really good side."

Sheffield United sit third in the Championship, just one point below Yorkshire rivals Leeds United, and Wilder is keen to continue the momentum his side have shown over the past two months.

"I look at the team, what we need to put out there, who is fresh and who can go again," he added.

"I think it's a little bit different early on in the season because people are finding their form from a physical point of view but I think we all want that consistency.

Tuesday's opponents Bristol City are currently eight matches unbeaten and Wilder remains wary of the threat the Robins possess.

"Everything [will go] into Bristol City because of their unbeaten record for a few games now, [it's] always a difficult place to go: they drew with Leeds, beat Middlesbrough, so if we take our eye off the ball in any way, shape or form we'll get hurt on Tuesday night."

Image source, BBC Sport

Bristol City are unbeaten in eight Championship games (W3 D5) heading into Tuesday night's clash with Sheffield United at Ashton Gate, where they are yet to lose a league game this season.

The Blades have recovered from two consecutive defeats to win two on the bounce and victory would take Chris Wilder's side above Leeds United into second before the Whites play on Wednesday.

• Bristol City lost 1-0 in both league meetings with Sheffield United the last time the two sides faced each other in 2022-23.

• Sheffield United have won four of their last six away league games against Bristol City (D1 L1).

• Bristol City are unbeaten in each of their last 11 home league games (W6 D5), though could draw four in a row at Ashton Gate in the league for the first time since April 2009.

• Sheffield United have won five of their last seven Championship games in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), though the two games they failed to win were both 1-0 away defeats, including this season at Middlesbrough.

• Sheffield United’s Kieffer Moore has been involved in four goals in six Championship appearances against Bristol City (2 goals, 2 assists), including in both previous appearances at Ashton Gate (1 goal, 1 assist).

Image source, Rex Features

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