Since that shared point at Glanford Park on 14 March the Blades have drawn 1-1 at Walsall whilst they ended a run of five games without a win by beating Port Vale 1-0 via the penalty spot from Jose Baxter. The win kept United 5th in the table but Barnsley dropped to 7th after drawing 1-1 with Preston North End. The result leaves United three points ahead of the Reds with a win tonight crucial.
Sheffield United ended a run of five games with a win as they beat Port Vale 1-0 courtesy of a first-half penalty from Jose Baxter. The hosts threatened early on with Baxter having a free-kick deflected over. Jamie Murphy then fired in a 20-yard effort which was straight at goalkeeper Chris Neal. Vale responded with Chris Robertson's header from Michael O'Connor's free-kick forcing keeper Mark Howard to make a save. After United's Steven Davies put a long-range effort narrowly wide, the breakthrough goal came on the half-hour mark.
The Blades were awarded a penalty when O'Connor was ruled to have fouled Murphy inside the area and Baxter smashed home the resulting spot-kick. Neal saved an angled shot from Matty Done early in the second half before Vale enjoyed a good spell. Louis Dodd fired wide and then Howard was forced to tip over O'Connor's long-range drive while Marcus Marshall had a shot charged down. At the other end, Neal then saved from Davies, Murphy and John Brayford. Vale had Brown sent off in stoppage time when he collected his second yellow card of the game for a foul on Ryan Flynn.
Sheffield United boss Nigel Clough is expected to name an uncharged squad from which beat Port Vale last Staurday with defender Jay McEverley (shoulder) still doubtful but should be included amongst the substitutes. However they are without trio Terry Kennedy, Stefan Scougall (both knee) and James Wallace (muscular) through injury.
After drawing with the Blades, the Iron have only played a further one more match which they lost by three goals to one at Rochdale last Saturday. They are currently 17th in the table but with just one point seperating them and 21st placed Crewe Alexandra (who hold the last relegation spot) look in real danger of playing League Two football next season if they fail to win enough points. You have to go back to 17 February since their last victory - a 2-0 win over Chesterfield.
Rochdale made it four wins from their last five games with a 3-1 victory against Scunthorpe at Spotland. The result took Dale to within three points of sixth-placed Peterborough with a couple of games in hand over most of their play-off chasing rivals. Paddy Madden had the first opening of the day when he raced clear of the Dale defence for a ball over the top. The striker fired across Jamie Jones' goal but wide of the far post.
Rochdale took the lead in the 24th minute when Michael Rose's inswinging free-kick from wide on the right flew across the goalmouth and straight into the net. Stephen Dawson and Jamie Allen volleyed over the top before the interval with the home side controlling the game. After a scrappy opening to the second half Scunthorpe levelled on the hour mark when Kevin van Veen fired through Jones' legs.
But the Iron were only level for a matter of seconds, as Ian Henderson pounced on the rebound after Rhys Bennett's shot crashed against the crossbar. And Dale wrapped up the win in the 84th minute when Henderson's cross towards the back post was nodded past Luke Daniels by Peter Vincenti.
The Iron could hand a debut to 21 year-old John Lundstram who is currently on loan from Everton and was an unused substitute at Spotland at the weekend. Skipper Neal Bishop is abscent through injury after undergoing groin surgery but duo Gary McSheffrey and Hakeeb Adelakun have both recovered from broken hands.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 3 Scunthorpe United 1