Preview | Sheffield United v Swansea City
Swansea City head to Bramall Lane looking to make a statement against a Sheffield United side closing in on a return to the Premier League.
The Swans suffered late heartbreak against Birmingham City last time out, seeing a late 3-2 lead turning into a 4-3 defeat in the final stages.
Russell Martin and his side will be seeking a response on their travels, but know they will face a considerable test against the in-form Blades.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side have lost just two homes games all season, and have lost just one of their last 16 matches in all competitions.
But the Swans provided a stern test of the Yorkshire side in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, and will be out to do so again.
Team news
A calf injury will keep Joel Latibeaudiere sidelined for the Swans, but Joe Allen has recovered from a knock and is in contention to feature.
Steven Benda is a long-term absentee after knee surgery, while Liam Walsh is involved in the travelling squad for the first time this term after recovering from an Achilles injury.
Pre-match views
Russell Martin:
“In the home game we played really well.
“The test for us now, and for this young team, is to go to Bramall Lane, where it will be a brilliant atmosphere, and perform against a team right at the top of the table.
“[Sheffield United] are winning games in lots of different ways and there’s a real threat in terms of their power and athleticism. They’re a team full of experience and I’m sure the fans will be right behind them.
“We’re going to try and be the team we want to me so I think it will be an exciting game for us.”
Paul Heckingbottom:
"We know they can be really frustrating to play against, they try to manage the game and dominate the ball.
"In my time we've had two games against them where we've been able to impose ourselves on them.
"We've been winning the ball back to get chances or when we played down there we actually had more of the ball than them, which is rare for them. We controlled the game that way without doing as much.
"We're very conscious about staying composed and understanding what they bring.
"I like watching them, I've just watched their FA Cup game against Bristol (City). They changed shape slightly but the principles are still the same. it's something you can't get frustrated by, you have to use it to your advantage."
Remember the last time?
Swansea City were beaten by Sheffield United as three first-half goals set the Blades on the way to all three points at Bramall Lane.
Goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and George Baldock left the Swans facing an uphill struggle after just 18 minutes, with Billy Sharp adding to the visitors’ woes before the break.
Gibbs-White added his second with 12 minutes remaining and the visitors - who rarely tested Wes Foderingham in the Blades goal - could have no complaints about the outcome as they suffered a second heavy away defeat in a row following defeat at Stoke.
Prime numbers
1 – Bramall Lane has not proved a happy hunting ground for the Swans, they have won just one of their last 16 league visits to the home of the Blades. That victory came in 2018 as Yan Dhanda struck a late winner.
115 – Liam Cullen is averaging a goal every 115 minutes of action after taking his tally for the season to six against Birmingham City.