Talking Tactics | Sheffield United v Swansea City
Swansea City make the trip to Sheffield United this weekend, and WhoScored.com has taken the chance to preview the encounter with the Blades. Here, they take a look at what to expect from Sheffield United, the key battle and a key stat.
What to expect from Sheffield United
The fixture list hasn't been kind on Swansea to kick off 2023, given we are a matter of weeks into the new year and they will already have faced title contenders Burnley and Sheffield United.
The Swans make the trip to Bramall Lane on a run of just two league wins in their last 13 outings, and things don't get much easier for Russell Martin's side as they face a Blades outfit unbeaten in nine in England's second tier.
Sheffield United have won seven of those nine, too, and have won their last four on home turf. There's no denying that this is a tough test for Martin's men on Saturday. Paul Heckingbottom has his side playing exciting football in a three-man backline with the Blades having scored the second-most goals (48) and conceded the fewest (24) in the Championship this season.
Despite a raft of absentees, Heckingbottom has a core group of stars to call upon on Saturday that he'll feel have what it takes to secure the Blades three key points on home turf.
Billy Sharp is set to lead the charge for United on Saturday, but it is those in support of the experienced striker that Swansea need to be wary of. Youngster Iliman Ndiaye has established himself as one of the hottest prospects in the league having scored 10 goals and provided an additional seven assists.
Meanwhile, there is a solid midfield foundation of Oliver Norwood and Sander Berge for Heckingbottom to utilise, with the former returning a WhoScored.com rating of 7.52, that the best in the Championship this season.
In total, three of the nine best-rated players in England's second tier ply their trade for the Blades, with Ndiaye (7.21) and Anel Ahmedhodzic (7.16) joining Norwood in the top nine.
It's evident, then, that there is a solid spine running through the side as United seek to return to the Premier League. Unsurprisingly, Sheffield United have developed a statistically calculated WhoScored.com style of play of 'attack through the middle' as they focus their efforts through the middle of the park, maximising Norwood's eye for a pass, noted in that he ranks third for key passes (60) in the Championship this season.
As such, there is greater onus on the wing-backs to provide protection for the defence, and this can be seen in the fact that Max Lowe (3.4) and George Baldock (1.6) rank first and fifth, respectively, for tackles per game of all Blades players this season.
Key battle
In Swansea's best efforts to subdue Sheffield United this afternoon, it's of the utmost importance that Norwood's influence is limited. All seven of the 31-year-old's best-rated performances in the Championship this season have come at Bramall Lane, and he has been in superb form all season.
There is no doubting Norwood's importance to the Blades with his energy, quality on the ball and set-piece deliveries all valuable assets.
One of Jay Fulton's statistically calculated WhoScored.com strengths is 'defensive contribution' and it's deserved, too, as he ranks fifth for both tackles per game (1.2) and interceptions per game (0.8) of all Swans players.
While Martin will expect the Scot and skipper Matt Grimes to showcase their bravery with the ball for his side, they will all know the importance of the work they do in those key moments without it.
Key stat
As solid as Sheffield United have been defensively this season, they have still developed a statistically calculated WhoScored.com weakness of 'avoiding individual errors'.
The Blades have committed more errors leading to an opposition goal (7) than any other team in the Championship this season, with 29.2% of the total goals they have shipped coming as a result of individual mistakes.