Match Preview: Sheffield United v Swansea City

Last updated : 21 April 2010 By @blades_mad1889

sheffield united vs. swansea city
The Blades were in Steel City Derby action last Sunday has they made the shortest trip of the season across to S6. A United win could have put a nail into the Owls relegation coffin, but the two sides fought out a 1-1 draw which in terms of Wednesday fighting off the drop zone didn't do them any justice.

Darius Henderson almost took the lead early on when his unmarked header was cleared against the post by Captain Darren Purse before Richard Cresswell drilled wide against his former club. Four minutes away from half-time the home side took the lead when Darren Potter charged into the box and finished off Luke Varney's cross.

However on the hour mark the scores were level when Lee Williamson's free-kick flew into the top far corner with keeper Lee Grant helpless; 1-1.

City won the upper hand against united earlier in the season at the Liberty Stadium; the visitors looked to have salvaged a point when Stephen Quinn (72 minutes) found the net to cancel out Lee Trundle's (52) penalty. They were reduced to ten men when Jordi Lopez (77) was handed his second booking of the game.

The game spun in favour of the home side when substitute Thomas Butler (82) beat Blades keeper Mark Bunn at his near post and in the final minute Nathan Dyer was also handed a second booking as the Swans finished off the game with nine men; 2-1.

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell are expected to be without Toni Kallio (hamstring), Jordan Stewart (knee) and Ryan France whom are all ruled out through injury. They will also be without Steve Simonsen (Stoke City) and Paul Connolly (Derby County), the duo has completed their loan spells with the Bramall Lane club.

However, they can welcome back keeper Paddy Kenny who hasn't played since the Play-Off Final defeat to Burnley in May 2009. The shot stopper was handed a nine month ban for allegedly taking a banned substance; that ban has now ended and he is available for selection.

Blades Last Line-Up (18/04/2010 at Sheffield Wednesday):

Steve Simonsen, Paul Connolly, Chris Morgan, Nyron Nosworthy, Andy Taylor, Lee Williamson, James Harper, Nick Montgomery, Stephen Quinn, Darius Henderson, Richard Cresswell. Substitutes: Kyle Bartley, Henri Camara, Ched Evans, Mark Yeates, Glen Little, Ian Bennett, Marcel Seip.

Swansea City come into this fixture after a home tie with Barnsley and they boosted their play-off hopes with a 3-1 victory over the South Yorkshire club; Ashley Williams (23 minutes), Shefki Kuqi (28) and Darren Pratley (72) all scored for the Swans with a reply from defender Darren Moore (35).

Tomorrow's visitors could be secured of a play-off place if they claim all three points at Bramall Lane whilst Blackpool failed to win at Peterborough United. Cardiff City, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City are already guaranteed a place in the play-offs with Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion already promoted.

The visitors are without Spanish defender Angel Zaragoza Rangel (groin) due to injury and are expected to be replaced by a fit-again Alberto Serran.

Former Sheffield United trio Nathan Dyer, Craig Beattie and David Cotterill could all be on show at Bramall Lane tomorrow to face there former club.

Dyer spent time at the Lane on loan last season (from Southampton), making his debut in a 2-1 home win over Watford and went onto make three (+4) appearances and scored just once in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

Beattie was also on loan for the latter stages of last season (from West Bromwich Albion), he made his debut at Plymouth Argyle (2-2) and played three (+13) games for United and scored just once during his short spell with the Blades.

Cotterill joined the Blades initially on loan in February 2008 from Wigan Athletic - making his debut in a 0-0 draw with Scunthorpe United in what was Bryan Robson's last home game in charge of United. The Welsh international made a total of 43 (+19) appearances and found the net six times before making a move to the Liberty Stadium in November 2009.

Swans Last Line-Up (17/04/2010 vs. Barnsley): Dorus de

Vries, Ashley Williams, Gary Monk, Federico Bessone, Alberot Polo Serran, Leon Britton, Darren Pratley, Cedric van der Gun, Mark Gower, David Cotterill, Shefki Kuqi. Substitutes: Andrea Orlandi, David Cornall, Gorka Pintado, Lee Trundle, Joe Allen, Thomas Butler, David Edgar.

Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2-0 Swansea City


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