Bury vs. Sheffield United

Last updated : 22 January 2013 By @blades_mad1889

PLEASE NOTE THIS FIXTURE HAS BEEN POSTPONED

Sheffield United looked like there first league win of 2013 was on the cards when after only 90 seconds a headed corner from Harry Maguire found the net against Notts County. The win looked even more so when Magpies star striker Francois Zoko was dismissed following a few choice words with the referee Mark Haywood. With 10 minutes of the match remaining a free-kick was met by Alan Judge and evaded by everyone, including keeper George Long as the ball found the net.

Blades boss Danny Wilson is without defender Neill Collins (broken cheekbone) and striker Shaun Miller (cruciate knee ligament), meanwhile keeper Mark Howard (thigh) and defender Lescinel Jean-Francois (knee) have returned to training but are unlikely to see first team action soon. Whilst fellow defender Matt Hill (broken jaw) is also ruled out and expected to return to training at the beginning of March and Marcus Williams (illness) missed the trip to Meadow Lane last weekend, Darryl Westlake is likely to continue in that role.

Blades boss Danny Wilson could name striker Chris Porter somewhere in his eighteen man squad to face his former club. He started his football career with the Gigg Lane club, signing professional terms in March 2003. He made his league debut the same month in a 0-0 draw at Macclesfield Town as a substitute. The following (2003/04) season he went onto become a regular in the team and netted his first goal in a 3-2 home defeat to Scunthorpe United and went onto score ten goals in total that campaign. He netted a further ten goals the following season before in June 2005 signed for rival Lancashire club Oldham Athletic In total he made 54 (+24) appearances for the shakers and netted 20 goals.

Bury, currently 22nd in the League One table saw there scheduled home league tie with Stevenage postponed last Saturday, leaving there respectable 1-1 draw at Milton Keynes Dons on 12th January there last action on the field. Goals have been few and far between for Kevin Blackwell's side and the former Sheffield United and Leeds United boss hasn't tasted victory in all competitions since 20th November 2012 when they beat Scunthorpe United, but have lost only four in the last eleven matches.

The Shakers have recently seen there transfer embargo lifted by the Football Association following the repayment of there PFA loan and may bring in new faces prior to the match against the Blades, they have however been able to sign players on loan and out of contract players during the embargo.

The Gigg Lane club have no new injuries to effect the squad selection, they have recently re-signed Tom Hopper (Leicester City), Troy Hewitt (Queens Park Rangers), Zac Thompson (Leeds United) and Ethan Ebanks-Landell (Wolverhampton Wanderers) on loan, but during this January transfer window has seen Lateef Elford Alliyu (Crawley Town) and Peter Sweeney (AFC Wimbledon) leave the Lancashire club in permanent deals.

Blades-Mad Prediction: Bury 0-2 Sheffield United