Match Preview: Burnley vs. Sheffield United

Last updated : 17 April 2009 By @blades_mad1889

burnley vs. sheffield united
The Clarets have had a fantastic season; beating Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion in the domestic cups, but despite that distraction have found themselves in the play-off pack and whilst they are undoubtedly too far away as far as points are concerned to win promotion via an automatic spot they will have there eyes set on a third to sixth place finish.

The Turf Moor club came head-to-head with play-off rivals Cardiff City in there last match at Ninnian park on Easter Monday with the Welsh side recording a 3-1 win over their play-off counterparts and thus denting the Clarets push for promotion to the Premier League.

However it took until the last fifth teen minutes of the game remaining when Jay Bothroyd (74) opened the scoring, from then on it was an avalanche of goals when Robbie Blake (84) levelled for the visitors, but quick fire goals from Ross McCormack (85 & 90) sealed the vital win for the Bluebirds.

Clarets boss Owen Coyle is likely to see Steven Thompson and Martin Paterson return to the squad against the Blades at Turf Moor.

Possible Clarets Line-Up: Brian Jensen, Rhys Williams, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Christian Kalvenes, Graham Alexander, Chris Eagles, Wade Elliott, Chris McCann, Robbie Blake, Jay Rodriguez.

By the time that his preview goes live to the general public its possible that the league table could take a dramatic twist, with Birmingham City at Watford and Cardiff City at Preston North End - but one thing that is likely is that Wolverhampton Wanderers will have secured a place in the Premier League for the 2009/10 season.

Sheffield United head to Turf Moor after a disappointing 0-0 home draw with Nottingham Forest; the visitors saw Kevin Wilson dismissed for a head butt on Greg Halford but despite being down to ten men hung on to keep the score square.

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will have to think about his squad selection ahead of their trip to Lancashire; he will be without Ego Ehiogu (hamstring) Derek Geary (knee) and Gary Speed (back) as well as Stephen Quinn (also back); whilst defender Matthew Kilgallon (knee ligament damage) is also out injured and could be replaced by either Leigh Bromby or Kyle Walker.

United will also be without former Barnsley midfielder Brian Howard who picked up his tenth booking of the season in the 1-0 win at Reading on Good Friday, he will now serve a two match suspension and will be absent from the fixtures with Burnley and Swansea City.

Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Kyle Naughton, Chris Morgan, Leigh Bromby, Gary Naysmith, Greg Halford, Nick Montgomery, John-Joe O'Toole, David Cotterill, Darius Henderson, Arturo Lupoli.