Championship play-off hopefuls Sheffield United will host Bournemouth, who remain in the running for automatic promotion despite a mid-week league loss with kickoff at 2:45 pm.
Sheffield United is sixth, two points ahead of seventh-place Middlesbrough. Bournemouth is second and six points clear of third-place Huddersfield Town.
On Tuesday night, Sheffield United earned a vital 1-0 victory over playoff rivals Queens Park Rangers when Oliver Norwood scored the game’s only goal.
It was only a second win in five games for the Blades, aiming to achieve back-to-back victories for the first time since February.
Since Paul Heckingbottom was appointed manager on November 25, no team in the Championship has picked up more points than Sheffield United (41). The 44-year-old is also yet to lose a home game in charge, winning eight and drawing two of his ten matches at Bramall Lane. The Blades have kept a clean sheet in eight of those.
Bournemouth manager Scott Parker said that he is “surprised” that his side’s match against West Brom will be played at 12:30 pm on Saturday, less than 72 hours after their midweek trip to Huddersfield. The Cherries have a six-point gap over the Terriers in third but are trailing leaders Fulham by 11 points and have two games in hand over the Cottagers.
Sheffield United vs. Bournemouth Head to Head
Both sides have seven games against each other, with the hosts take five wins while the visitors have one win. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Sheffield United 1-0 QPR
- Stoke City 1-0 Sheffield United
- Sheffield United 2-0 Barnsley
- Blackpool 0-0 Sheffield United
- Coventry City 4-1 Sheffield United
Away
- West Brom 2-0 Bournemouth
- Bournemouth 3-2 Bristol City
- Huddersfield Town 0-3 Bournemouth
- Bournemouth 1-1 Reading
- Bournemouth 2-0 Derby County
Sheffield United Team News
Billy Sharp has not played for two games because of a hamstring injury, and although he could be selected to play on Saturday, head coach Paul Heckingbottom has said that Sharp will not be rushed back. Since making his Sheffield Utd debut in midweek, Filip Uremovic has cramp and should be available again.
Bournemouth Team News
Manager Scott Parker said after his team’s loss to West Brom that he does not yet know how serious the issue is for Dominic Solanke, who was seen limping in the closing stages of the match.
Prediction and Odds
Bournemouth will not want to fall into a rut, so we expect Scott Parker’s side to respond here.
- Draw
- Double Chance
- Both Teams to Score
