Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Bramall Lane

What a season it’s been for the Blades.

Wins over Arsenal and Everton, along with draws against Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Wolves and the Gunners again have left them closing in on their best finish since coming sixth in the old First Division in 1974-75.

But how have they done it?

Sam Parry, editor of DEM Blades , externalfanzine, says good management, clearly defined roles for the players, hard work and skill have been crucial.

“The Blades' success comes from a simple tactical decision by Chris Wilder to play square pegs in square holes,” says Parry.

“There's a lot of talk about over-lapping centre-backs, and rightly so.

"When I see Jack O'Connell flying down the left-wing, around the outside of our full-back, delivering a cross from inside the penalty box, I can't help but smile. But that comes from a process of ensuring the players work hard, understand their position and have the qualities to play there.

“This is the basics. But it’s a rare tactic in the top flight, where many clubs rely on individual brilliance. Don’t get me wrong; we have quality too, which shines brightly when the basics come together.”

Image source, Rex Features

Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on Final Score

Bournemouth really needed those two wins to stop the freefall. They’ve got themselves a nice foundation to keep winning.

Eddie Howe has got loads of time to take on a big club. If he keeps doing what he’s done at Bournemouth I’m sure he’ll get a crack at it.

Image source, Rex Features

Ian Dennis
Match of the Day commentator at Bramall Lane

It speaks volumes for the progress that Sheffield United have made that there is now talk of qualifying for European football for the first time in their history.

Chris Wilder fully deserved his new long-term deal last month and the board have backed him in the transfer market. Since returning to the top flight, the Blades have broken their transfer record five times, latterly on Sander Berge, who is in line for his home debut.

If Wilder and his team have been a breath of fresh air, then Bournemouth will also feel resuscitated after back-to-back league victories for the first time since September - but they remain in trouble.

Six of their remaining seven away matches are against top-nine sides, so every away point gleaned will be a precious one.

Image source, Reuters

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Bramall Lane

The good news is it has stopped raining and it’s game on.

The team news is quite routine as Sheffield United name an unchanged side from the team that started the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last weekend, meaning a home debut for £22m record signing Sander Berge.

David McGoldrick is on the bench after a spell out, while fellow forward Panagiotis Retsos, a transfer deadline day signing, is also on the bench.

Image source, .

Just the one change for Bournemouth and it’s a forced one as Andrew Surman replaces Jefferson Lerma, who was sent off against Aston Villa last week.

Joshua King, after seven games out with a hamstring injury and a player who Manchester United tried and failed to sign last month, is among the Bournemouth substitutes.

Image source, .

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Bramall Lane

Today will be a home debut for Sheffield United’s club record signing Sander Berge, a 6ft 5in highly-rated 21-year-old midfielder who joined the Blades in a £22m move from Belgian side Genk in January.

Berge, a Norway international, enjoyed an impressive debut as his new side won 1-0 at Crystal Palace eight days ago and he already has an incredibly catchy song, one that will stay in your head for days and days.

Sung along to the tune of She's Electric by Oasis, it goes as follows...

"He's Norwegian, next to Norwood and Fleck he's the reason we'll be playing in Europe next season, his name is Sander Berge."

Am expecting to hear it a lot today.

Image source, Rex Features

Mark Lawrenson
Ex-Liverpool defender on Final Score

Bournemouth have been so unlucky with injuries. Keep everybody fit and they’ll be absolutely fine.

I think it would be a massive ask for Eddie Howe to get a top-six club. It would be a huge step up for him.

Image source, Rex Features

Joshua King, who has not featured so far in 2020 because of a hamstring injury, is on the bench for the Cherries who are without midfielder Jefferson Lerma. Jack Stacey is also on the bench after injury.

Sheffield United are unchanged with David McGoldrick returning to the bench after a foot problem. Club record signing Sander Berge makes his home debut.

Image source, Getty Images

Dion Dublin
Former Man Utd striker on Final Score

Chris Wilder has done a remarkable job at Sheffield United. They've stuck to what they do best and it's worked brilliantly.

People keep saying they will fall away and it's just not happened.

I like how well the team know their jobs and fill in for each other. They are very much a team and aren't reliant on anyone.

Image source, Rex Features

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Bramall Lane

The question remains whether this game will go ahead, after the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham was cancelled because of Storm Ciara. All matches in the Women’s Super League and Championship have fallen to the weather, with top-flight games in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany also being called off.

In Sheffield at 11am, the conditions were not too bad although when that wind of at least 50mph hits you, you are just pinned back on your feet, struggling to move.

But an absolute downpour at midday followed and, as at 12.30, there were puddles in the stands, puddles in the technical areas and along the side on the artificial turf, as well as on the pitch, near the deadball lines.

However, the rest of the pitch does not look too bad, although it’s going to be a nightmare for both goalkeepers. One of those games when you will need to get the ball wide, get it into the box as quickly as possible, shoot low and hard and follow-up everything in case the keeper spills it. Chris Wilder may well be relishing these conditions.

BBC Radio 5 Live

You can listen to full commentary from Bramall Lane on BBC Radio 5 Live from 14:00 GMT by clicking the icon at the top of the page. Build-up has already started.

Image source, PA Media

Shout out to all the parents who have braved the elements to take their children to Bramall Lane.

It's lashing down.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Bramall Lane

It's already been a good weekend for the sporting city of Sheffield as boxer Kell Brook, who has previously fought at Bramall Lane, knocked out American Mark DeLuca in the seventh round at the Sheffield Arena on Saturday.

Blades fan Brook, a former world champion at welterweight who is now fighting at super-welterweight and hoping to become a two-weight world champion, had some interesting sparring partners this week.

The Blades have been punching above their weight all season and midfielder John Lundstram and defender Jack O’Connell put the gloves on and got into the ring with Brook to see how they would get on, although with limited success.

Image source, Getty Images

This was the scene at Bramall Lane an hour or so ago.

It doesn't look great from these pictures but the game is definitely on.

Don't forget your waterproofs if you're going.

Image source, Getty Images

Will Joshua King return from injury for his first match of 2020?

The Bournemouth striker has not featured since 28 December because of a hamstring injury but has returned to training and is in contention to feature at Bramall Lane.

Manchester United looked to sign King before last month's deadline but Cherries boss Eddie Howe says the player is committed to keeping Bournemouth in the Premier League.

"It was a huge compliment and a huge moment for him, to have Manchester United come in and express an interest," added Howe.

"He knows we're in a relegation fight - it's no time for him to focus on himself."

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Getty Images

It's going to be a testing afternoon for the corner flags at Bramall Lane.

Will they survive?

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Bramall Lane

For the first time in Premier League history, a mid-season break has been introduced with game week 26 staggered over two separate weeks, with eight teams playing this weekend and the other 12 between next Friday and Monday.

Players of those teams not in action have posted pictures of themselves in places such as Rio, Dubai and the Maldives, but Sheffield United and Bournemouth have not been so lucky.

They face conditions today of torrential rain and strong winds of more than 50mph at Bramall Lane with Storm Ciara, only the third named storm of the 2019-20 storm season, causing chaos.

If the Blades can beat Bournemouth, as well as the storm, they will move up to fifth above Tottenham, while Bournemouth are aiming for their third successive win and will jump over Brighton into 15th and five points clear of the relegation zone if they get it.

Image source, Getty Images