Match Preview: Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers

sheffield united vs. queens park rangers

The Blades have quite a history already this season with the Lotus Road, having met thrice due to an FA Cup replay. The two sides drew 1-1 in the Capital; former Blade Mikele Leigertwood had fired the home side ahead with 88 seconds until Richard Cresswell (8 minutes) fired home from Toni Kallio's low cross.

That draw at Loftus Road was then manager Paul Hart's first game in charge, and they were soon to meet again as the pair was drawing to face each other in the FA Cup at Bramall Lane which was met by a similar score line; again the Red and White Wizards were forced to come from behind - despite dominating the visitors took an undeserved lead through on-loan striker Jay Simpson (39) who finished off Wayne Routledge's cross. However on the stroke of half-time paranormal was resumed when Richard Cresswell (45) headed home.

The replay in January (ten days later) proved to be a sterner test; United romped into a three goal lead via Lee Williamson, Jamie Ward and again Richard Cresswell before the Hoops netted two late goals but the visiting side hung on for the win. They were knocked out of the cup in the following round at Bolton Wanderers (0-2).

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will be pleased to welcome back forward Darius Henderson who returns from a three match suspension; he missed the fixtures against Plymouth Argyle (4-3), Crystal Palace (0-1) and Peterborough United having seen a straight red in the 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

He is however without defenders Derek Geary (ankle), Gary Naysmith (hamstring) and Ryan France who remain sidelined until the remainder of the season. Keeper Paddy Kenny is still unavailable; he is currently serving a nine month suspension which lasts forty-four Coca-Cola Championship fixtures. They are also without trio; Ched Evans (broken collar bone), Jamie Ward and Lee Williamson (both hamstring) who all sustained injuries during the 1-0 defeat at Peterborough United in midweek.

United could turn to shot stopper Ian Bennett and left full-back Andy Taylor to face there former club at Bramall Lane tomorrow; although the duo are both only likely to retain a substitutes place in the team.

Worksop born keeper Ian Bennett began his career at Loftus Road, playing at both youth and reserve team level between 1988 and 1989 without making any first team appearances; he moved to Newcastle United on a free transfer.

Whilst at Blackburn Rovers Andy Taylor spent time with the Hoops on loan in January 2006, though his time was short lived. He made his debut as a substitute in a 1-0 win over Southampton and went onto make one (+2) appearance before returning to Ewood Park.

Blades Last Line-Up (09/03/2010 at Peterborough United): Mark Bunn, Nyron Nosworthy, Kyle Bartley, Chris Morgan, Jordan Stewart, Lee Williamson, Nick Montgomery, James Harper, Jamie Ward, Richard Cresswell, Ched Evans. Substitutes: Stephen Quinn, Henri Camara, Mark Yeates, Marcel Seip, Ian Bennett, Andy Taylor, Matthew Lowton.

Last weekend saw new manager Neil Warnock's first game in charge at Queens Park Rangers and he couldn't have been handed a more difficult task than coming up against automatic promotion hopefuls West Bromwich Albion. And he came up trumps having claimed a 3-1 victory over the Baggies.

As manager he succeed Adrian Heath in December 1999 in a run which was to last until May 2007 following relegation from the FA Premier League; in total he was in charge of 388 competitive fixtures - winning 165 of those games and seeing 123 defeats (100 draws).

During his reign he will be best remembered for winning automatic promotion to the Premier League (behind Reading) during the 2005/06 campaign whilst he also completed the Steel City Double that same season over Sheffield Wednesday (1-0 & 2-1).

He also guided the club to the semi-final stages of both the League Cup and FA Cup respectively; losing out to eventual winners Liverpool (2-3 aggregate) and Arsenal (0-1) in the 2002/03 season. In the same season they lost 3-0 in the Play-Off Final at the Millennium Stadium (Cardiff) to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Neil Warnock is likely to wheel out Blades former midfielder Mikele Leigertwood to face them; he was signed by United from Crystal Palace in July 2006 in a £600,000 transfer fee; he was sold to tomorrow's opponents in a £900,000 transfer having made 19 (+4) appearances for the club.

Hoops Last Line-Up (09/03/2010 vs. Plymouth Argyle): Carl Ikeme, Damion Stewart, Matthew Connolly, Matt Hill, Kaspars Gorkss, Mikele Leigertwood, Hogan Ephraim, Adel Taarabt, Alejandro Faurlin, Tamas Priskin, Jay Simpson. Substitutes: Lee Cook, Buzsaky, Rowan Vine, Gary Borrowdale, Peter Ramage, Radek Cerny, Antonio German.

Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 1-1 Queens Park Rangers