Match Preview: Cardiff City vs. Sheffield United

Last updated : 19 March 2009 By @blades_mad1889

cardiff city vs. sheffield united
Cardiff City have had a run of fixtures a late after a few months of terrible whether postponed a few fixtures from there calendar and have been handed a heavy backlog at the end of the season.

They claimed a 2-1 victory at home to Watford last Wednesday night; but only nicked all three points at the death when a point looked liniment. Tommy Smith opened up the scoring for the visitors, his tenth minute penalty flying past Stuart Taylor, but four minutes later Jay Bothroyd levelled. And then the draw was in the cards, seven minutes into added time Ross McCormack converted the penalty.

Bluebirds boss Dave Jones may have to await on the fitness of Jay Bothroyd before considering his team selection; the striker played 69 minutes in last Sunday's 1-1 derby draw at Bristol City, whilst Ross McCormack who netted the 88th minute equaliser would be his likely replacement.

Possible Bluebirds Line-Up; Stuart Taylor; Kevin McNaughton, Roger Johnson, Gabor Gyepes, Tony Capaldi, Chris Burke Stephen McPhail, Joe Ledley, Paul Parry, Ross McCormack, Jay Bothroyd.

Sheffield United come into this fixture on back of a 4-2 victory over Derby County at Bramall Lane last weekend; they sprung into a two-nil lead when Kyle Naughton chased through to smash home before Darius Henderson headed home from David Cotterill's cross before the break.

The Rams got a life line when ex-Blade Rob Hulse capitalised on a bad goal line clearance to bring the score back to 2-1, but United answered back when Henderson turned in the box to fire home past Stephen Bywater before substitute Barry Brannan netted a debut goal for the visitors - and when it looked like the visitors may snatch a point at the death, Greg Halford produced a telling cross for Craig Beattie on the far post to control and screw into the back of the net; 4-2.

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will be without striker Billy Sharp (groin) who looks set to miss the remainder of the season through injury, Jamie Ward, Danny Webber or Arturo Lupoli could take his place.

Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Kyle Naughton, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Naysmith, David Cotterill, Stephen Quinn, John-Joe O'Toole, Greg Halford, Darius Henderson, Jamie Ward.