Match Preview: Watford vs. Sheffield United

Last updated : 10 March 2011 By @blades_mad1889

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They travel to Watford this weekend after facing Nottingham Forest at the Lane last Tuesday night, and they boosted their relegation survival hopes with a 2-1 victory over the Reds as they were searching for three points in the hunt for promotion.

The regular script from this season went to plan as the visitors struck first; Dale Adebola (42 minutes) capitalising on poor defending to knock home past Steve Simonsen – but despite being a goal down the level of play during the first half was relatively even with United notching 57% of possession.

They came out fighting in the second and should have levelled when Daniel Bogdanovic was brought down in the box; the Maltese striker stepped up but Lee Camp guessed right to block his effort.

With 15 or so minutes remaining the magic happened, Sam Vokes found a way through the Forest defence and fired home in front of the Kop past an onrushing Camp; 1-1.

United then took the game to the City Ground club and a corner was met by an unmarked Matt Lowton (80) who headed home into the top corner to win the game for the Blades – it was their first victory since before Christmas.

Blades boss Micky is without a number of players; Ryan France (back), Richard Wright (thigh), Darius Henderson (hamstring) and Andy Taylor (leg) are all missing through injury.

Defender Nyron Nosworthy, currently on a season’s long loan from Premier League outfit Sunderland will make his 300th Football League start today should he be selected against the Hornets.

Expected Eleven:  Simonsen, Nosworthy, Lowry, Collins, Lowton, Bogdanovic, Montgomery (c), Quinn, Doyle, Cresswell, Vokes.

Swansea City entertained the Hornets on Tuesday night and both sides came away with a valuable point in a 1-1 draw; Stephen Dobie (26) opened the scoring for the Jacks whilst in-form Danny Graham (78) notched his 22nd goal of the season.

The point in Wales put the Vicarage Road side eleventh in the table; just nine points away from sixth placed Nottingham Forest who lost at Bramall Lane the same day.

Graham, who netted at the Liberty Stadium last Tuesday night is in top form and will be their player to watch – he has netted in his previous three outings versus Swansea (1-1), Millwall (1-0) and Doncaster Rovers (1-1).

Hornets boss Malky Mackay will be without Stephen McGinn (knee), Danny Drinkwater (thigh) and Lloyd Doyley (hamstring) through injury and all are unlikely to feature against the Blades this weekend.

Meanwhile Michael Bryan (ankle) has returned to training but is also unlikely to feature against Micky Adams Blades side.

Expected Eleven: Loach, Taylor, Bennett, Mariappa, Hodson, Eustace (c), Jenkins, Buckley, Cowie, Deeney, Grahams.