Sheffield United v Reading Preview
These teams sit right beside each other in the table and following good wins last weekend, they’re within touching distance of the automatic places. Sheffield United sit in 4th position with twenty eight points, while opponents Reading are two points better off in 3rd.
Sheffield United are one of the top sides in terms of recent form and although they were fortunate against Barnsley last weekend, Kevin Blackwell will be delighted with their current situation. Just like Barnsley, they’ve had to deal with plenty of media attention after centre half Chris Morgan was in the middle of an elbow incident that’s left Iain Hume with a fractured skull. The Blades are being threatened with legal action yet if Blackwell can keep his players focussed on the job in hand; they have a real chance of cementing their play off place or even bettering it. It would be fair to say that they’re not one of the freest scoring sides in the division and most of their wins have been by the odd goal. However, one man in particular is contributing immensely to the cause, with James Beattie now on seven goals for the season and looking every bit like that player who succeeded in the Premiership a few years ago. If other players can follow suit, who knows how far the Blades can go?
As for Reading, it was more of the same for them last Saturday. Despite facing a Derby side who are in good form themselves, the Royals brushed them aside and came away with a 3-0 victory. That win has left them just one point away from the automatic positions and with Birmingham looking shaky at the moment, Steve Coppell may feel that this is the weekend where they overtake the Blues. Their last two opponents have been Bristol City and Derby and with both of these sides holding promotion aspirations of their own, to knock a total of seven past them is a fantastic return. Strikers Kevin Doyle and Noel Hunt are become one of the deadliest partnerships in the division, with Doyle leading the league scoring charts on thirteen goals while Hunt has six to his name.
In terms of team news, Sheffield United will be without Ugo Ehiogu who starts a three game suspension. Following all of the negative media focus on him this week, it’s unknown whether Kevin Blackwell will pick Chris Morgan either. Darius Henderson is another absentee, although Brian Howard is now available after missing the last two games through suspension and eligibility respectively. There’s not much to report for Reading, although Michael Duberry is now back into contention after being sidelined with a calf problem. Elsewhere, Marek Matejovsky is another one who could feature following an ankle injury.
Sheffield United may be in good form at the moment, but nothing looks like stopping Reading. Every week they look to be getting better and after brushing aside Bristol City and Derby in recent weeks, we think they’ll make it a third consecutive victory. Our prediction: 2-0 Royals.
