Two sides separated by two points in the top half of the Championship table will square off on Wednesday, as Sheffield United welcome Swansea City to Bramall Lane.
Both sides head into the contest on the back of draws at the weekend, with the hosts sat sixth having not yet tasted defeat in England's second tier this term.
Match preview
Sheffield United return to Bramall Lane on Wednesday aiming to get back to winning ways and extend their unbeaten start to the Championship season, in their bid to make an immediate return to the Premier League this term.
After finishing 20th in England's top flight last time around, Chris Wilder's side returned to England's second tier while facing a two-point deduction, but they have quickly overcome that opening setback with a pleasing opening run, currently sat sixth with 13 points on the board.
In their opening seven league games, the Blades have conceded just three goals, the fewest in the division, while scoring nine at the other end, having navigated through the entirety of September without shipping, firstly beating Watford and Hull City 1-0 and 2-0 respectively either side of the international break.
Wilder's men would then make it three straight victories at home to Derby County, as Gustavo Hamer netted the only goal of the game from a free kick, but they were unable to extend that run any further at the weekend, visiting newly-promoted Portsmouth and settling for a point from a goalless stalemate.
With plenty of positives to take from their start to the campaign, having overcome the deduction to establish themselves in the leading pack thanks to their defensive solidity, but with a desire to improve at the other end of the pitch, Sheffield United will go in search of a fifth Championship win of the campaign.
Their visitors head to South Yorkshire in the midst of a growing unbeaten streak of their own, having enjoyed an impressive improvement since the September international break.
Swansea City headed into the first break of the season with just four points on the board from four matches, culminating in a 1-0 defeat in a tough trip to early leaders West Bromwich Albion, and they have added seven more points to that tally in three attempts since.
On their return to action, Luke Williams's side picked up their second and third victories of the season consecutively, beating Norwich City 1-0 at home and Coventry City 2-1 away thanks to first-half goals from Liam Cullen and Oli Cooper.
A home meeting with Bristol City then followed on Sunday, and while the Swans did take an early lead through Ben Cabango, they were unable to make it three wins on the bounce, instead coming away with a share of the spoils as Jason Knight drew their visitors level 15 minutes from time.
Having now climbed to ninth spot at this early stage of the term thanks to their upturn in form, Swansea City head to Bramall Lane aiming to make it four league games unbeaten including three victories on Wednesday.
Team News
Chris Wilder may opt to make minor alterations to freshen up his Sheffield United side on Wednesday, with key midfielder Oliver Arblaster remaining sidelined by an injury, while Jack Robinson and Tom Davies may not be deemed fit in time to feature having recently made returns from their own layoffs.
On the back of four consecutive clean sheets, Alfie Gilchrist, Harry Souttar, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Harrison Burrows are bound to line up in an unchanged back four in front of goalkeeper Michael Cooper, who has only conceded one goal in his first five Blades appearances since arriving from Plymouth Argyle in August.
Sydie Peck could again get the nod alongside Vinicius Souza in the engine room in Arblaster's absence, while Rhian Brewster, Andre Brooks and Tyrese Campbell will compete to come into the attacking unit after Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Callum O'Hare and Gustavo Hamer continued to support Kieffer Moore up top at the weekend.
Facing a quicker turnaround than their hosts after being in action on Sunday, Swansea City could make several changes for Wednesday's game, with Josh Key, Joe Allen and Jay Fulton among those fighting to come in from the outset.
Fulton and Allen have settled for substitute appearances in recent weeks, with summer signing Goncalo Franco preferred alongside talisman Matt Grimes in the centre, while Oli Cooper should again take up an attacking midfield role.
He will likely support front man Zan Vipotnik, while Ronald and Ji-Sung Eom will offer further threat on the wings in a 4-2-3-1 shape similar to that of their hosts.
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Gilchrist, Souttar, Ahmedhodzic, Burrows; Peck, Souza; Rak-Sakyi, Hamer, Brooks; Moore
Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Vigouroux; Key, Cabango, Darling, Tymon; Allen, Grimes; Ronald, Cooper, Eom; Vipotnik
We say: Sheffield United 1-0 Swansea City
Thanks to their formidable defensive record thus far, one goal may settle Wednesday's contest for Sheffield United, and with an abundance of quality and home advantage on their side, we see them having enough to find a winning goal which eluded them at the weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
