The Foxes had virtually dominated the first half without really creating when the two teams met earlier in the season, though the Blades almost saw the ball in the back of the net when Darius Henderson saw his deflected shot cannon off the up-right. But early in the second-half the visitors had a break through.
Matt Oakley hit a cruel free-kick when it slammed off Matty Fryatt - the ball went one way and keeper Mark Bunn went the other to the delight of the travelling City fans, but shortly afterwards United were level when winger Keith Treacy gambled after turning his defender, and all of 35 yards out he sweetly struck the ball with power into the top right hand corner with keeper Chris Weale unable to stop it; the game finished 1-1.
Leicester City have been this seasons hot shots with plentiful of victories against Middlesbrough (1-0), Blackpool (2-1) and Sheffield Wednesday (3-0) and prior to last weekend found themselves inside the top six summit of the lead before they were scheduled to travel to Cardiff City last weekend.
However due to the 'winter' weekend which was endured a week ago the fixture in South Wales became one of three postponed matches due to a frozen pitch before the game had kicked off; leaving the 3-0 victory over the Owls at the Walkers Stadium there last action of football. Steve Howard (8 minutes) and a Andy King (25 & 73) brace was enough to see off Sheffield Wednesday in what was Brian Laws last match in charge of the Hillsborough club.
The Foxes could be without defender Bruno Berner (calf) through injury, but may be fit to feature against the Blades - should he not recover then he is expected to be replaced by on-loan Manchester City man Ryan McGiven. Meanwhile Wayne Brown and eleven goal striker Matty Fryatt have both missed training sessions recently but both should be available for section to face Sheffield United on
boxing day. 
Possible Foxes Line-Up: Chris Weale, Michael Morrison, Wayne Brown, Ryan McGiven, Jack Hobbs, Matty Oakley, Andy King, Lloyd Dyer, Richie Wellens, Steven Howard, Matty Fryatt.
Sheffield United were in action last Saturday in the Capital where the two teams drew 1-1; it was always going to be an uneasy encounter at Loftus Road with the Hoops blowing hot and cold recently as well as appointing a new manager in the form of Paul Hart. And his new leadership obviously rubbed off on the shoulders of the QPR faithful as Mikele Leigertwood opened the scoring within 88 seconds.
A half hearted Clearance fell to the former Blades midfielder on the edge of the box and his low drive took a slight deflection as it spun past Mark Bunn and into the net; ten games ago that would have been game set and match for a United team with little faith but they have a new assurgency and made it seven games unbeaten when Richard Cresswell (8) tucked home Toni Kallio's low cross to put the Blades into a respectable 7th league position.
United will be without striker Darius Henderson (hip) through injury, the former Reading, Gillingham and Watford forward has netted ten goals in the eighteen appearances he has made so far this season - including an hat-trick at Bristol City in a dramatic 3-2 win on 28th November.
Blades boss Kevin Blackwell could feature Jordan Stewart and Richard Cresswell against their former club; the latter is currently on loan from Stoke City but it is believed that a £500,000 fee has already been agreed for the former Sheffield Wednesday forward.
Strwart started his career with the Foxes in August 1999; who then played at Filbert Street - making his debut in a 3-1 home defeat to West Ham United months later. He was shipped out on loan to Bristol Rovers before returning and left the club in July 2005 having made 98 (+29) appearances and scoring six goals.
Cresswell signed for Leicester City in a £750,000 deal from Sheffield Wednesday in September 2000; making his debut as a substitute in a 1-1 home draw with Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Cup, replacing Ade Akinbiyi. His Foxes career was short lived as he made a loan move to Preston North End in March 2001 before making it a £500,000 permanent move that summer; he played just four (+9) times and scored once in an FA Cup tie against his former club York City (won 3-0).
Possible Blades Line-Up: Mark Bunn, Kyle Walker, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Andy Taylor, Jordan Stewart, Jamie Ward, Nick Montgomery, James Harper, Stephen Quinn, Richard Cresswell.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Leicester City 0-1 Sheffield United
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:: Statistics ::
For Head to Head statistics please click here.
Last 10 Games... Home & Away
2007/2008 | Sat 05 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 0 | Leicester City | Championship |
Tue 23 Oct | Leicester City | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship | |
2005/2006 | Sat 26 Nov | Leicester City | 4 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship |
Sat 06 Aug | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 1 | Leicester City | Championship | |
2004/2005 | Tue 28 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | Leicester City | Championship |
Tue 14 Sep | Leicester City | 3 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship | |
2002/2003 | Mon 21 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | Leicester City | League Division One |
Sat 07 Dec | Leicester City | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One | |
1995/1996 | Sat 30 Mar | Leicester City | 0 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One |
Sat 21 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 3 | Leicester City | League Division One |
Head to Head Statistics... | Goals | |||||
Venue | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against |
Home | 43 | 21 | 12 | 10 | 84 | 54 |
Away | 42 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 55 | 75 |
Total | 85 | 31 | 28 | 26 | 139 | 131 |
:: Match Officials ::
Referee: D. Deadman
Assistants: D. Hanley & G. Russell
Fourth Official: K. Woolmer