Match Preview: Swansea City vs. Sheffield United

Last updated : 21 September 2009 By @blades_mad1889

swansea city vs. sheffield united
... Admittedly this is the Blades second visit to the Liberty Stadium, staking a 1-1 draw their last season when Chris Morgan scored in the last minute after Jason Scotland had netted from the spot - striker Darius Henderson had also been shown his marching orders early in the second half.

Swansea City come into this fixture after a trip to Oakwell last Saturday; it was Barnsley boss Mark Robins first fixture at home in charge after taking over the Reds since his appointment. The game finished 0-0 with either side troubling one another; winger Nathan Dyer and midfielder Leon Britton were both strong in the middle.

The Liberty Stadium club has seen Gary Monk, Gorka Pintado and Angel Rangel suspended in recent weeks after the trio were all sent off during their League Cup fixture with Scunthorpe United; however they all returned to feature against the Tykes last Saturday.

Meanwhile Darren Prattley (shoulder), Stephen Dobie (ribs), Thomas Butler (hernia) and Gullem Bauza (knee) have all been missing through injury but all should be either fit or nearly fit to play against the Blades.

The Welsh outfit whom have made the steady rise from League Two to the Championship over the last few years could wheel out striker Craig Beattie and winger Nathan Dyer against there former club.

Scottish international Craig Beattie 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.

Winger Dyer joined on loan from Southampton with Jordan Robertson going in the other direction in a similar deal. He was signed in September 2008 for three months but found opportunities limited with David Cotterill and Greg Halford commanding the right hand side.

He made his Blades debut in a 2-1 home win over Watford and shortly before his departure scored in the 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace. In all he made just 3 (+4) appearances and scored

once before returning to St Mary's.

Possible Swans Line-Up: Dorus de Vries, Angel Rangel, Gary Monk, Ashley Williams, Alan Tate, Leon Britton, Nathan Dyer, Ferre Bodde, Cedric van der Gun, Gorka Pintado, Mark Gower.

The triumphant Red and White Wizards make the long trip to Wales after defeating there bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday (3-2) a week ago. United stormed into a dream start, going into the break with a three-nil advantage after Jamie Ward (7 minutes) slotted home from the corner whilst Ched Evans saw his shot cannon off Darius Henderson (15) to give a quick-fire two goal lead.

With three minutes to go before the break David Cotterill launched a deep cross onto the far post where Wednesday defender Lewis Buxton woefully attempted to head out for a corner, only to slam the ball into the top corner with keeper Lee Grant stranded.

After the break the Owls hit back and had pulled a goal back with a few minutes of the re-start; Marcus Tudgay (46) capitalized on a poor clearance; a cross into the box eventually hooked away by Kyle Walker but fell to the former Derby striker on the edge of the box where his sweet strike found the bottom corner; and on 66th minute Etienne Esajas fired the ball home from a long range free-kick to draw the scores even closer but United hung on to claim the historic victory.

During this game, in the first half the Blades lost winger Jamie Ward to a suspected hamstring injury after he was woefully challenged by Jermaine Johnson and is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks - he was replaced by David Cotterill.

Meanwhile Andrew Davies is set to retain his centre-back position; the defender joined the Blades on loan from Stoke City in time to feature against the Owls. He was drafted in as cover for highly rated centre-half Matthew Kilgallon (chest infection) who has missed the previous two fixtures through illness.

Possible Blades Line-Up: Mark Bunn, Kyle Walker, Chris Morgan, Andrew Davies, Andy Taylor, David Cotterill, Stephen Quinn, Nick Montgomery, James Harper, Keith Treacy, Darius Henderson.

Blades-Mad Prediction: Swansea City 0-1 Sheffield United


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:: Match Officials ::

Referee: D. Deadman
Assistants: S. Knapp & G. Muge
Fourth Official: S. Phipps