Match Preview: Sheffield United v Burnley

Last updated : 02 November 2007 By @blades_mad1889

blades v clarets
Sheffield United go into this game on back of a glamorous tie against Arsenal. However the dream was short lived when the Gunners went away with a 3-0 victory, Eduardo (9 & 50 minutes) and Denilson (69) netting the goals.

On loan defenders Gary Cahill and Phil Barnsley are likely to return to the starting line-up after being cup-tied against the Gunners. The pair have previous enjoyed loan spells at Burnley also...

Cahill joined the Clarets on loan from Aston Villa between November 2004 and May 2005; he played 32 league and cup games whilst he netted the games only goal at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke City in January 2005.

Meanwhile Bardsley played six times for Burnley between March and May 2005 on loan from Manchester United. Goalkeeper Paddy Kenny (shin) could once again be sidelined with Ian Bennett taking his place once again.

Possible Blades Line-Up: Ian bennett, Phil Bardsley, Gary Cahill, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Naysmith, David Carney, Michael Tonge, Stephen Quinn, Danny Webber, James Beattie, Jonathan Stead.

Burnley head to Bramall Lane after playing Championship football the previous weekend and where on the wrong end of a five goal thriller at home to Southampton.

Bradley Wright-Phillips (3 minutes) and Jason Euell (15) spurned the Saints into an early two-nil lead before Chris McCann (31) pulled one back - Stern John (51) added to the visitors lead after the re-start and Ade Akinbiyi (83) reduced the deficit for the Clarets.

The Clarets have an healthy enough team with only Michael Duff and Besart Berisha both out injured with crucial ligament injuries and will not play for the Turf Moor club again this season.

Steve Coterill could play defenders Jon Harley and David Unsworth as well as strikers Andy Gray and Ade Akinbiyi who have all been loyal servants of Sheffield United.

Harley has twice on loan for the Blades during the 2002-03 and 2003-04 campaigns before securing a permanent deal in June 2004 from Fulham; in total he played 71 (+1) times for the Blades and netted four times before joining Burnley in August 2005.

Andy Gray, who has to date netted nine goals this season featured for the Blades between February 2004 and August 2005. he signed from Bradford City along with Simon Francis and netted 28 goals in 63 games (+2) for the Blades before joining Sunderland in a £1.1M deal.

Striker partner Ade Akinbiyi spent twelve months at Bramall Lane between January 2006 and January 2007; he was signed from and sold back to Burnley. He played just 14 (+6) games and netted four times; he only worth while contribution coming at Hillsborough when he took United into a 2-0 lead before eventually winning the game 2-1.

David Unsworth will always be remembered as the player who struck that decisive blow for Wigan Athletic on the final day of last season which condemned the Blades to the Championship. The 'Rhino' signed from Portsmouth in August 2005 and joined the Latics on a free transfer in January 2007; playing 39 times (+1) and scoring four goals.

Possible Clarets Line-Up: Gabor Kiraly, Graham Alexander, Clarke Carlisle, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, John Spicer, Chris McCann, Wade Elliott, Robbie Blake, Andy Gray, Kyle Lafferty.


:: Man in the Middle ::

Match Referee: R. J. Beeby (Northamptonshire)
Assistants: G. Law & J. Tyas
Fourth Official: S. Procter-Green

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