Match Preview: Sheffield United v Watford

Last updated : 27 April 2007 By @blades_mad1889

blades v hornets
A draw with Manchester City at Vicarage Road was enough to erasure that the Hornets would be playing Championship football next season.

And, Sheffield United could well join them but an implicational performances of late has led the Blades to four points out of the last three games, and three more points against Watford could well be enough to keep them up.

United claimed a vital point against relegation at Charlton Athletic last Saturday, Talal El Karkouri netted a bizarre goal which deflected off Michael Tonge and Matthew Kilgallon before bouncing in the net whilst Jonathan Stead levelled for the Blades.

Neil Warnock will be without main striker Rob Hulse after he broke his leg at Chelsea, but looks to have found a replacement in Luton Shelton who has should speed and agility of late.

Sheffield United are likely to call upon the services of captain Chris Morgan with central-defender Claude Davis (leg) injured.

Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Derek Geary, Phil Jagielka, Chris Morgan, Chris Armstrong, Keith Gillespie, Michael Tonge, Nick Montgomery, Colin Kazim-Richards, Jonathan Stead, Luton Shelton.

The Hornets were finally relegated last Saturday after months of uncertainty, Manchester City claimed a score draw at Vicarage Road with Darius Vassell taking advantage from a mistake by keeper Ben Fotser whilst Tomas Priskin levelled for the Hornets. A win would have kept them up for at least another week, but it wasn't to be.

Watford will have to contend with five players out injured; James Chambers (ankle), Tommy Smith (hamstring), Damien Francis (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), Moses Ashikodi (broken leg) and Gareth Williams (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) are all missing for the Hornets.

The visitors are expected to field Steven Kabba who joined the Vicarage Road club in January 2007 from Sheffield United. He signed for the Blades in November 2002, netting on his debut in a 5-0 win at Bradford City. Kabba went onto make 53 (+34) appearances for the Blades and score 22 goals.

Possible Hornets Line-Up: Ben Foster, Lloyd Doyley, Jay DeMerit, Clarke Carlisle, Chris Powell, Steven Kabba, Douglas Rinaldi, Alhassin Bangura, Gavin Mahon, Hamar Bouazza, Marlon King.


The Last Time...

Sheffield United 1-4 Watford
6 February 2006
Attendance: 20,791

Blades: Kenny, Geary (Morgan), Short, Bromby, Unsworth (sent-off), Ifill (1) (Gillespie), Armstrong, Jagielka, Tonge, Kabba (Shipperley), Akinbiyi. Unused: Flitcroft, A.Quinn

Hornets: Foster, Doyley, DeMerit, Mackay, Stewart, Eagles (1) (Chambers), Mahon, Spring (Bangura), Yong (Bouazza (1)), Henderson, King (2). Unused: Chamberlain, Carlisle.