Match Preview: Sheffield United vs. Swansea City

Last updated : 22 April 2009 By @blades_mad1889

sheffield united v swansea city
In the Blades encounter with the Swans earlier in the season the two sides succumbed to a 1-1 draw in what was United's first appearance at the Liberty Stadium. Darius Henderson received a red card for an alleged elbow two minutes after half-time and shortly after Jason Scotland tucked away a penalty. The visitors had to wait until the dying minutes of the game when captain Chris Morgan's lob penetrated the City net.

United will also be without former Barnsley midfielder Brian Howard who picked up his tenth booking of the season in the 1-0 win at Reading on Good Friday, he serves the second of a two match suspension having sat out the previous fixture at Burnley; he will however be available for the final fixture at Crystal Palace as well as any possible play-offs.

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will have to think about his squad selection ahead of their trip to Lancashire; he will be without Ego Ehiogu (hamstring), Sun Jihai (knee), Derek Geary (knee) and Gary Speed (back) as well as Stephen Quinn (also back); whilst defender Matthew Kilgallon (knee ligament damage) is also out injured and could be replaced by either Leigh Bromby or Kyle Walker.

However full-back Gary Naysmith (knee) came off early in the Blades 1-0 defeat at Burnley last Monday night, and he - along with Greg Halford and Darius Henderson. Blades Assistant manager Sam Ellis said: "Greg Halford and Darius Henderson picked up knocks - although nothing that should rule them out - but Gary Naysmith has a knee ligament problem.

"We knew he had it and perhaps took a risk but I don't think it cost us against Burnley. We will have it checked and look at it later in the week."

Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Kyle Naughton, Chris Morgan, Leigh Bromby, Gary Naysmith, Greg Halford, Nick Montgomery, John-Joe O'Toole, David Cotterill, Darius Henderson, Jamie Ward.

Swansea City head into their clash with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane after a local (ish) fixture against Bristol City at the Liberty Stadium. The home side recorded a 1-0 victory, former Barnsley defender Gary Monk headed home at the near post after 25 minutes after Andrea Orlandi crossed to give the Swans a decent chance of making the play-offs.

Boss Roberto Martinez is likely to have no fresh injury worries ahead of their game tomorrow but will be without Marcos Painter (knee) and highly rated Ferrie Bodde (also knee) whom are both long term injuries.

Full-back Angel Rangel (Achilles) has recovered from his injury and played during the 1-0 win over the Robins and no doubt will feature at Bramall Lane.

They are however likely to wheel out Nathan Dyer whom has had and explosive career at the Welsh club since joining on loan from struggling Southampton in January 2009. He was on loan with the Blades earlier this season but never quite  hit it off like he has done with the play-off hopefuls.

He was signed on loan from the Saints with Jordon Robertson going the other way (also on loan) in September 2008 and returning in late December; making his debut in our 2-1 home win over Watford and netting his only goal in the 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace. In all he made 3 (+4) appearances for United and scored once.

Possible Swans Line-Up: Dorus de Vries, Gary Monk, Alan Tate, Federico Bessone, Ashley Williams, Leon Britton, Joe Allen, Andrea Orlandi, Garcia Jordi Gomez, Nathan Dyer, Jason Scotland.