Preview: Sheffield United vs. Exeter City

Last updated : 27 October 2011 By @blades_mad1889

Following a 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient last Saturday the Blades bounced back in midweek with a good display at home to Milton Keynes Dons – ending a 2-1 victory which lifted them to fourth in the table.

Keeper Steve Simonsen was relieved of his duties with Academy star George Long taking the number one spot. United took the lead on 22 minutes when Richard Cresswell fired home past David Martin with the visitors levelling things up seven minutes after the break; Stephen Gleason firing past Long.

Matthew Phillips, who has breathed a breath of fresh air into the Blades fans lungs since his loan move from Blackpool notched the eventual winner, he was teed off by fellow Seasider Billy Clarke to tap home his third in as many games for the club and Clarke’s 5th assist.

There was however one further action in the game when Adam Smith (83) picked up his second yellow card of the match, leaving the away side having to play out the remaining few minutes with ten men.

Blades boss Danny Wilson will be without Chris Morgan (knee), Andy Taylor (knee) and Johannes Ertl (knee) are all sidelined through injury ahead of our clash with the Grecians tomorrow.

Exeter City will travel to Bramall Lane tomorrow for their second away match in a row having won 2-1 at Walsall on Tuesday night – former Manchester United and Barnsley striker Daniel Nardiello (8 & 78) scored twice to claim their first away win of the season. Alex Nicholls (12) had levelled for the Saddlers.

The Grecians are likely to be without defender Richard Duffy (ankle) for their trip to the Lane this weekend; the Wales international is currently injured.

We’ve met before...

The first three meetings between the Blades and the Grecians all ended in a 3-1 win to the home side – a similar score line would please the kop faithful this weekend. Ironically all our meetings with Exeter have been at third tier level, the first time we met was in 1979/80 seasons campaign, the defeat endured at St. James Park is the first defeat that United have endured against these opponents.

Our last meeting with City was on 10 March 1984 were I am sure not many of today’s supporters (including myself) will remember fondly! United winning 2-1 away from home, having already drawn 2-2 at the Lane earlier in the season.

venue

p

w

d

l

gf

ga

Bramall Lane

4

3

1

0

11

4

St. James Park

4

2

1

1

7

5

Total

8

5

2

1

18

9