Sheffield United

Watford and Sheffield United will seek to get back on track when they meet on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Hornets have lost back-to-back games to fall out of the play-off places while the Blades have picked up just one point from three games since Christmas to fall off the pace in the promotion race.

• Watford are unbeaten in each of their past four home league games against Sheffield United (W3 D1), keeping a clean sheet in each of those matches since losing 2-0 in January 2009.

• Following a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane in September, Sheffield United are aiming to complete a league double over Watford for the first time since 2008-09 under Kevin Blackwell.

• Watford were unbeaten in 15 straight home league games prior to losing to Cardiff in their final match of 2024 (W10 D5) – the Hornets last lost two in a row at Vicarage Road in the Championship in February.

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in their past 13 Championship matches played on a Saturday (W9 D4), since a 1-0 loss at home to Luton in March 2023.

• Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has never won away to former side Watford in the league, drawing 0-0 with the Blades in the Premier League in October 2019 before losing 2-1 with Middlesbrough in the Championship in August 2022.

Sheffield United are considering re-signing a forward - either Southampton and Chile's Ben Brereton Diaz, 25, or Las Palmas and Scotland's Oli McBurnie, 28 - in a bid to boost their promotion hopes. (The Star, Sheffield), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield he was proud of his team after their 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion because of the injuries ravaging his squad.

The draw put the Blades one point clear at the top of the Championship when the game finished, with promotion rivals Leeds United and Burnley both playing on Sunday evening.

"We are so stretched it's unbelievable, and I'm so proud of my team, I thought we were light at the start of the season," he said.

"But I've learned so much about their attitude, especially late on. A few of them have not been well this week, but they left everything out there.

"We were actually really disappointed to go in 1-1 at half-time. But we were pushing and pushing to get a winner. We were bold, we were brave.

"Andre Brooks was outstanding. He needed to do more Monday to Friday in training - but I was delighted for him to get that goal."

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield

Image source, Getty Images

What do Sheffield United need in January?

A forward will be top of the list. An extra option up front could push United to promotion. Oliver Arblaster's injury makes another midfielder likely too.

What sort of business are they likely to do?

Even before the takeover of the club was completed, Chris Wilder had talked about loans rather than permanent deals anyway. The Blades have done a good job in the loan market this year so will back themselves here.

How successful have they been in recent January windows?

Last year they brought in Ben Brereton-Diaz, who played quite well. Ivo Grbic, the goalkeeper they signed, however, was a disaster.

The year prior the club was limited by a transfer embargo and did well to win promotion despite not being able to do any business.

Are there likely to be any notable departures?

This would've been a bigger concern if Arblaster was fit. Premier League clubs have watched him closely. However, United should be able to fend off interest in other key players to keep their group together.

How important is the transfer window likely to be in determining the success of their season?

United are already in a strong position and have what it takes to go up, with Wilder turning the club around after relegation from the top flight.

A bit more depth and competition could be just what they need to make an instant return to the Premier League.

Bramall Lane plays host to a top 10 clash in the Championship on Sunday as Sheffield United welcome West Bromwich Albion with both sides looking to bounce back from Boxing Day defeats.

The Blades remain second in the table despite a loss at home to fellow promotion chasers Burnley during the week, while the Baggies - currently eighth in the division - were beaten by Derby County last time out.

When they faced each other a few weeks ago, these two teams played out an end-to-end 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns.

• Sheffield United have won their last three home league games against West Bromwich Albion, scoring two goals in each victory.

• West Brom are winless in four league games against Sheffield United (D1 L3) since winning 4-0 in August 2021.

• Sheffield United haven't ended a year with a league draw in any of their last 20 years (W12 L8), since drawing 1-1 with Wigan Athletic in 2003.

• West Brom have won their final league game in each of the last two years, last ending a calendar year with victory in three years in a row between 2006 and 2009 (4).

• Sheffield United's Chris Wilder is unbeaten in his last four league meetings with West Bromwich Albion (W2 D2), two with the Blades (W1 D1) and two with Middlesbrough (W1 D1).

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder was left frustrated by refereeing decisions after his side were beaten 2-0 by Burnley.

Goals from Josh Brownhill and Zian Flemming either side of half-time condemned the Blades to a first home defeat of the season.

Wilder believes his side were "unfortunate" to lose but admits he was not happy with some of the decisions, particularly awarding the free-kick which led to Flemming's goal.

"I didn't think there was much in the game, it was always gonna be a tight game," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I could get myself into trouble, the reaction of the supporters says everything. The referee should blow and give us a free-kick but he doesn't and 10 seconds later they had exactly the same situation.

"We were unfortunate to go in at half-time behind and then we started the second half on the front foot. The time of the goals gave them something to hold onto. It was an unfortunate goal to concede to go to 2-0 down.

"We've had to deal with, yet again more head scratching decisions."

A big one on Boxing Day as third-placed Burnley travel to Championship leaders Sheffield United.

Both come into this game off the back of some decent momentum, the Blades are unbeaten in their last 11 league matches and the Clarets have not lost in their past nine.

• Sheffield United have lost their last three league games against Burnley, conceding 11 goals in the process. It's their worst losing run against the Clarets in club history.

• Following their 4-1 win at Bramall Lane in April, Burnley are looking to win consecutive away league games at Sheffield United for the first time.

• This is Sheffield United's eighth consecutive Boxing Day match played at Bramall Lane (W4 D1 L2) since an away defeat at Port Vale in 2014.

• Burnley have lost six of their last eight league matches on Boxing Day (W1 D1), losing each of their last three, all in the Premier League between 2018 and 2023.

• Burnley manager Scott Parker has never lost a league game against Sheffield United in his managerial career, winning two and drawing two of four games.

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Sheffield United have joined the growing list of English clubs under American ownership.

COH Sports has been trying to buy the club for months, with official confirmation coming just before a vital January transfer window.

The group's immediate aim will be to support manager Chris Wilder in his attempt to get the Blades back into the Premier League.

It would be wise to also look at Wilder's contract and consider a long-term extension as well. In difficult circumstances, he's guided United to the top of the Championship.

Let's not forget, last time he took United into the top flight, they finished ninth the following season. Backing the manager with January funds and a new deal would be a good start to a new era at Bramall Lane.

Prince Abdullah departs having been in charge during two recent Premier League promotion campaigns and the run to the FA Cup semi-finals in the 2022-23 season.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has hailed his Championship leaders for hitting '50 points' before Christmas.

Saturday's 2-0 win at Cardiff maintained their three-point cushion over Leeds United at the top and took them to 48 points after 22 matches, which would have been 50 but for the two-point deduction at the start of the season.

"I told the players before [the game] we've got an opportunity to get to 50 points before the 23rd game of the season and we've got to embrace that," Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield, ignoring the deduction.

"We're in a great position but have huge challenges ahead of us - exciting challenges and to come to a ground like this and break down a team, to play with the discipline and control we had was incredibly pleasing.

"We're getting stretched a little bit at the moment with six senior players out, but they keep doing what they do.

"They play with that freedom, they play with that control and when they have to defend they're proud of their clean sheets.

"I thought we were really good good, they were dangerous on the counter-attack, so we had to get so many things right."

United are at home to third-placed Burnley in the standout game in the Championship on Boxing Day.