Sheffield United

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.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United will be without Tyrese Campbell for Saturday's Championship match at Cardiff City, but manager Chris Wilder is hopeful he will return for their Christmas fixtures.

The forward has missed the past two games because of a hamstring injury which led to him being substituted in the Blades' 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion this month.

"Tyrese won't be available for the weekend - that's a blow for us but as we have done over this last couple of months when we've had some injuries to deal with we've dealt with them pretty well," Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"The injuries we don't like are the ones we could have done something about, but that one was just unfortunate. Ty will work hard to get himself back and hopefully he'll get back for the Burnley, West Brom, Sunderland trilogy we've got coming up."

Campbell is Sheffield United's top scorer this season with six goals from eight league starts for the Championship leaders.

Table-topping Sheffield United head to Cardiff looking to at least maintain their three-point lead over closest rivals Leeds.

With rock-bottom Hull City and third-bottom Portsmouth both playing at lunchtime, the Bluebirds could find themselves back in the Championship relegation zone by the time the game kicks-off.

• Cardiff City have lost each of their past four league games against Sheffield United, as many as across their prior 18 meetings with the Blades combined (W7 D7).

• Sheffield United have lost just one of their past six away league games against Cardiff City (W3 D2), a 2-0 defeat in August 2017.

• Cardiff have failed to win any of their past five league games against sides from Yorkshire (D1 L4), conceding 15 goals in total during that time.

• Sheffield United are unbeaten across their past five away league games (W3 D2), scoring exactly two goals in four of those matches. The Blades haven't enjoyed a longer run on their travels since a run of seven matches ending in February 2023.

• Both teams have scored in just five of Sheffield United's 21 Championship matches so far this season (24%) – the lowest tally in the competition.

Image source, Getty Images

The Blades are giving Vinicius Souza as much time as they can to prove he is fit to play against Plymouth Argyle in the Championship on Saturday.

The Brazilian midfielder has started all 19 league games he has been involved in this season but was forced off early in the second half of Wednesday's win at Millwall with a hamstring issue.

"We'll give Vini as long as we can," Blades boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"He had an issue in the Sunderland game but got through that and the West Brom game but we said if it needed to be flagged up by Vini he would and he has."

Souza has only missed one league match for Sheffield United this season and while admitting he is a key member of their side, Wilder will not take any risks.

"I've spoken to our doctor who has a background at two Olympics and he talked about professional athletes not always being 100% but having to get out there, but we're not going to risk him and then it puts him out for four to six weeks - we're not that reckless.

"If we have to protect him we'll protect him but he wanted to get out there on Sunday and Wednesday so the attitude of the player is spot on but we'll make a sensible decision.

Sheffield United's progression to the top of the Championship earned Chris Wilder November's manager of the month award this week.

Plymouth head to Bramall Lane having shipped 10 goals in their past two road trips.

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in their past five league games against Plymouth Argyle (W4 D1), with this their first league meeting since a 4-3 win for the Blades in February 2010.

• Plymouth have lost 14 of their past 16 away league games against Sheffield United (W1 D1), conceding 2.2 goals per game on average in that run.

• Sheffield United have won each of their past eight games at Bramall Lane without conceding; the last side in the top four tiers to win nine such games in succession were Chelsea in November 2009 (the Blues won 10 straight 'to nil' across all competitions).

• Plymouth are winless in their past 12 away league games (D2 L10), and have conceded at least four goals in their past two matches on the road; the last Championship side to do so in three successive such games were Bolton Wanderers in February 2015.

• Among all Championship managers to have managed 50+ away games since 2004-05, Plymouth's Wayne Rooney has lost the highest percentage of those (38/57 – 67%), while he has the joint-lowest goals-per-game away from home, along with Paul Sturrock (0.67 goals per game).