Match Preview: Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday

Last updated : 07 April 2008 By @blades_mad1889

blades vs owls
Sheffield United will be desperate to win their game in hand which could see them rejuvenate their play-off ambitions, not only for the points but for local pride against the Owls.

After Akpo Sodje (25) and Marcus Tudgay (76) both scored against the Blades some 79 days ago to record a 2-0 victory over their City rivals, the Owls could now break two records at Bramall Lane.

The last time that Wednesday completed the Sheffield double was way back during the 1912/13 season when the Owls won 1-0 (at Hillsborough) and 2-0 at Bramall Lane whilst the last time they won at Sheffield 2 was September 1967 when the Beatles were number one in the UK charts.

Last Saturday the Blades entertained Leicester City at the Lane with star striker James Beattie (12, 14 & 19 minutes) steam rolled to a seven minute hat-trick, his first coming via the penalty spot after Billy Sharp was judged to have been tripped in the box by Patrick Kisnorbo who unfortunately was handed a straight red card for his troubles.

The former Everton striker saw his spot kick initially saved by keeper Paul Henderson but Beattie was on hand to bundle home the rebound and two minutes later the keeper made a blunder when Beattie saw his 25 yard free-kick spilled and roll into the back of the net.

And with barely 20 minutes gone the score was three-nil when Beattie was once again found the net - heading home Michael Tonge's corner.

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will see the return of defender Derek Geary (hamstring) and is boosted by the return of Chris Morgan after he sat out that fixture against the Foxes with a one-match ban.

However midfielders; Nick Montgomery (broken metatarsal), Lee Martin (knee) and Chris Armstrong (groin) are all out injured whilst forward Danny Webber (leg) is also unavailable for selection.

With Leigh Bromby (Watford) and Alan Quinn (Ipswich Town) now not present with the Blades having been sold to their respective clubs last January it just leaves defender Derek Geary as the only former owls player in the United team.

Geary came through the youth ranks, with his Hillsborough stay lasted between November 1997 and June 2004 - 'Del Boy' made 116 (+11) starts without scoring. He joined Stockport County on a free transfer before moving to United in October 2004 for £50,000.

Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, John Halls, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Gary Naysmith, David Cotterill, Michael Tonge, Gary Speed, David Carney, Rob Hulse, Billy Sharp.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws return to Glanford Park for the first time since he left Scunthorpe United to do battle with the Iron in their relegation six-pointer clash.

The relegation threatened pair shared the spoils in the early Championship kick-off with on loan Chelsea forward Ben Sahar (49) comically turned home Jermaine Johnson's miss fire from close range early in the second half, cancelling out Ian Morris's (18) fantastic lob past keeper Lee Grant.

Brian Laws comes to Bramall Lane with late fitness checks to Richard Hinds (ankle) and Sean McAllister (calf) whilst striker Wade Small could be made available after recovering from an illness.

Possible Owls Line-Up: Lee Grant, Richard Wood, Peter Gilbert, Tommy Spurr, Dave Watson, Graham Kavanagh, Franck Songo'o, Jermaine Johnson, Adam Bolder, Ben Sahar, Deon Burton.


:: Man in the Middle ::

Match Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
Assistants: P. Sharp & G. Turner
Fourth Official: S. Attwell

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