Sheffield United vs. Aston Villa
FA Cup Round Three
@ Bramall Lane - Kick-Off: 3:00pm
At this stage of the competition (third round), the Blades overcame their opponents Queens Park Rangers in a replay at Loftus Road having initially drawing the lane clash 1-1.
Richard Cresswell was a menace for the London club last season; scoring in each of the four meetings and it was his goal which earned a replay in the capital. United came out all guns blazing and slipped into a three goal lead – Lee Williamson, Jamie Ward and Cresswell on the score sheet before the Hoops pulled two back.
The Blades went through 3-2 but were undone in round four when Bolton Wanderers sailed past with a comfortable 2-0 victory at the Reebok Stadium.
Sheffield United have been FA Cup finalists on six occasions, winning the prestigious trophy four times; 1899 (v Derby County), 1902 (v Southampton), 1915 (v Chelsea) and 1925 (v Cardiff City). Our double defeats occurred in 1901 (v Tottenham Hotspur) and 1936 (v Arsenal).
The Blades come into this fixture on top of a 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers last Monday in the npower Championship.
United will be without a number of key players; Captain Chris Morgan (knee) has been sidelined for the remainder of the season through injury, whilst; Nyron Nosworthy (ankle), Andy Taylor (leg), Ryan France (back), Richard Wright (thigh) and Darius Henderson (hamstring) are also unavailable.
However Micky Adams will be without midfielder Stephen Quinn who serves the last of a three match suspension after being sent off in the 4-2 defeat at Norwich City. He will be made available again for selection when the Blades travel to Ricoh Arena next week to face Coventry City.
Expected Eleven: Simonsen, Calve, Bartley, Ertl, Kozluk, Ward, Williamson, Montgomery (c), Yeates, Bogdanovic, Evans.