Sheffield United return to the Lane after a 10 days absence; there last home fixture ended in a 1-1 draw with Leicester City before they travelled to the Madejski Stadium to face Reading last Saturday.
The Blades fell behind early on when defender Matt Mills (13 minutes) headed home his first goal in a Royals shirt since his summer move from Doncaster Rovers and the score stayed the same until three minutes from the first half whistle. A cross into the box was eventually brought down by Ched Evans and sliced across goal for an unmarked Stephen Quinn (42) to tap the ball home.
Early in the second half the Blades saw Darius Henderson far post header disallowed for an infringement and on 62 minutes Jamie Ward's edge of the area shot was tumbled by Royals keeper Adam Federici which flashed into the back of the net and with the clock ticking down David Cotterill drove the ball home into the top left hand corner with Federici rooted to the spot.
In the first half on loan winger Keith Treacy was substituted by David Cotterill after it seemed the Blackburn Rovers midfielder pulled his calf and maybe a doubt for this weekends clash against the Baggies.
Midfielder Brian Howard (tonsillitis) missed the trip to Berkshire through illness, though he may be available to play some part against the Albion.
United will host West Brom without midfielder Lee Williamson (back) who looks to require sugary after a pre-season out injured. They will also be without Gary Speed (back), Paddy Kenny (suspended) and Gary Naysmith (knee).
Possible Blades Line-Up: Mark Bunn, Kyle Walker, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Andy Taylor, David Cotterill, Nick Montgomery, Stephen Quinn, Jamie Ward, Darius Henderson, Ched Evans.
West Bromwich Albion meanwhile hosted Ipswich Town at the Hawthorns last Saturday, they disposed their opponents 2-0 before being given hard work by League Two war horses Rotherham United in the Carling Cup.
Despite being a goal down to Craig Beattie's (10th minute) early strike the Millers hit back through Micahel Cummins (29) and after goals from Graham Dorrans (51) and Tom Pope (52) the scores were locked at 2-2 at 90 minutes. Into extra-time it went and the scoring boots were still on as Pope (98) gifted United a 3-2 lead; but goals from Beattie (102) and Simon Cox (116) were enough to dent the Millers dreams.
The visitors could be without Gianni Zuiverloon (hamstring), striker Ishmael Miller (knee), midfielder James Morrison (heel) and defender Neil Clement (knee) - all of whom remain sidelined.
Midfielder Graham Dorrans should be made available for the visit to S2 after his recent suspension; he was handed his second book able offence in the 3-2 victory at Peterborough United over a week ago and missed the fixture at the Hawthorns against Ipswich Town through suspension.
Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo could wheel out Craig Beattie to face his former club; the Scottish international striker spent the latter part of the 2008/09 season on loan at Bramall Lane. He made his Blades debut in February 2009 in a 2-2 draw at Plymouth Argyle and scored his solitary goal in a 4-2 home win over Derby County.
He had come to the Lane originally on loan from West Bromwich Albion and played in the Blades play-off campaign; including the final at Wembley. In all the former Celtic forward made 3 (+13)
appearances and scored just once.
Possible Baggies Line-Up: Scott Carson, Shelton Martis, Shaun Cummings, Jonas Olsson, Marek Cech, Joe Mattlock, Chris Brunt, Youssouf Mulumbu, Graham Dorrans, Chris Wood, Luke Moore.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
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:: Match Officials ::
Referee: P. Crossley
Assistants: P. Kettlewell & R. Metcalfe
Fourth Official: A. Holmes