Sheffield United make the trip to St James' Park to face Newcastle United looking to extend their unbeaten streak in the Premier League to five matches.

Meanwhile, the Magpies head into the contest having avoided defeat in their last two matches, helping the club move eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

While Sheffield United remain as outsiders to secure a top-four place come the end of the season, it would be foolish for anyone to write off Chris Wilder's men while they continue to display the kind of fight which was required against Norwich City last weekend.

On another day, the Blades could have prevailed far more comfortably, but having to battle hard to register a 1-0 victory over the club's bottom-placed side may provide Wilder with more satisfaction.

Although he will naturally want a better return in the final third, his backline are showing the kind of resilience required to keep the club in contention among teams who will not relish facing them in the coming weeks and months.

Despite three defeats being recorded in their last 13 outings, those setbacks have come against Liverpool and Manchester City, highlighting that Wilder is continuing to get the best out of his united squad.

While it has been 15 top-flight matches since Sheffield conceded more than two goals in a single game, they next come up against opponents who have registered back-to-back clean sheets in the Premier League.

Steve Bruce would have had his concerns when Newcastle gifted two goals to West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup when on their way to cruising through to the next round, but there has been no such issue in English football's top tier.

Since the start of February, shutouts have come against Norwich City, Burnley and Southampton, with the second-half capitulation at Arsenal the only notable blot on their copybook.

With an eight-point cushion above the drop zone, Bruce and his side now have some breathing space to place slightly more emphasis on boosting a desperately poor goalscoring record.

Bruce will also hope that Allan Saint-Maximin's well-taken winner at St Mary's last weekend will act as the catalyst for a much-improved end to the campaign for the summer arrival.

Newcastle United Premier League form: DDLLDW
Newcastle United form (all competitions): WLLDDW

Sheffield United Premier League form: DLWWDW
Sheffield United form (all competitions): WWWDWW

Team News

With Newcastle stopper Martin Dubravka having been ruled out for at least a month, Karl Darlow will be handed an opportunity between the sticks.

Barring any late fitness issues, the remainder of the starting lineup could stay the same, with Dwight Gayle continuing to get the nod over Joelinton.

Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey are also expected to be preferred to the likes of Nabil Bentaleb.

Wilder will make at least one change to his Blades XI after Enda Stevens was ruled out for a number of weeks with a calf injury.

Ben Osborn is likely to take the place of the left wing-back, while Oliver McBurnie is pushing for a start after recovering from a knock.

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Manquillo, Lascelles, Fernandez, Rose; Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Saint-Maximin; Almiron, Gayle

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Basham, Egan, O'Connell; Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Osborn; McBurnie, Sharp

We say: Newcastle United 0-1 Sheffield United

Everything points to this game being a low-scoring affair. However, while Newcastle have shown recently that they are capable of keeping clean sheets, the Blades have made a habit of grinding out results and we expect Wilder's side to come through with a narrow win.