Sheffield United sacked manager David Weir little over a week ago following a defeat at home to Hartlepool United in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, leaving Chris Morgan in temporary charge for our game against Coventry City last Sunday. The game was played out at Northampton's Sixfield Stadium and the Sky Blues took out a resounding three goal lead via Leon Clarke (6 minutes) and Callum Wilson (32) before former Wednesday striker Clarke (49) added a second to his tally shortly after the break.
United had featured the unpopular one attack formation at the start of the match but the inclusion of Lyle Taylor at half-time allowed a familiar two-in-attack formation and whilst the game was hard to chase they almost came away from Sixfields with a point. Taylor netted his first goal for the Blades when his free-kick flew (62) past the wall and the keeper to score, and with ten minutes remaining Taylor (80) headed home to set up a tense finish but couldn't find that elusive goal to bring home a point.
Blades interim boss Chris Morgan is likely to be without midfielders Florent Cuvelier (knock) and Callum McFadzean (ankle) through injury- however he may see the return of striker Shaun Miller (cruciate ligament injury).
Port Vale, managed by former Lane boss Micky Adams currently lay 12th in the League One table following a 1-0 home defeat to Peterborough United last Saturday - Tyrone Barnett’s strike four minutes from time gave victory to the Posh.
Valliant’s boss Adams returned to the dugout last weekend after he himself missed three matches whilst recovering from a hip replacement operation - leaving his assistant Robert Page in charge during his absence. It will be the first league meeting that the former United boss returns to Bramall Lane. He was appointed manager on 30 December 2010 following Gary Speed's departure to take charge of the Wales National Team. Adams' first game in charge was on New Year’s Day - a 4-2 defeat at Burnley.
He was in charge of Sheffield United for 24 matches and during which time, despite a brave fight failed to keep the Blades in the Championship and were duly relegated. With this, on 12 May he was sacked and shortly after Danny Wilson was appointed.
The Vale are likely to field Chris Robertson to face his former club. He was on the books at Bramall Lane between July 2005 and March 2007 where he failed to break into the first team. Chester City handed him is Football League debut in a 5-0 drumming at Carlisle United whilst on a month’s loan in January 2006. In March 2007 he made a free transfer to Torquay United, scoring on his debut in a 3-0 home win over Wycombe Wanderers.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 1 Port Vale 1