A WAY THROUGH THIS
SHEFFIELD UNITED v MIDDLESBROUGH
Jonathan Way, 16 Jan 2010
Focus on the league...
Is what Boro now have to do after their 1-0 FA cup defeat against Manchester City. With transfers such as Celtic trio Robson, Flood and Killen coming in this week, hopefully these signings will turn out to be the kind of players that we desperately need to strengthen our side, if we are to have any chance of making the play-offs.
Since their one season in the Premiership in 2007, the Blades have always been one of the strong promotion challengers in the division. Sitting just two points outside the top six, Sheffield United are currently having their best spell of the campaign, having lost just one of their last nine games.
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Mark Bunn v Danny Coyne
Bunn - The 25 year old made his debut for Blades manager Kevin Blackwell in the first game of the season, where he kept a clean sheet at the Riverside. On loan from Blackburn, Bunn extended his deal until the end of the campaign, following injuries to other goalkeepers and his own impressive performances.
Coyne - Since coming back into the side three weeks ago, the Welshman has clearly pumped more confidence into the way our back four play, despite having lost our previous two fixtures. If Coyne hadn't started against City, I think we would have certainly lost by a greater margin than what we did as he made some good saves, particularly from Carlos Tevez.
Derek Geary v Chris Riggott
Geary - United's full back is one of only a few players who have played for both teams in Sheffield, having made over 100 appearances for the Owls. Having been at Bramall Lane for six years now, Geary will be hoping to help his side record their fifth consecutive home league clean sheet.
Riggott - Our number five has played like a rock for us in defence since returning from his ankle injury and was deservedly awarded our man of the match against Barnsley. Hopefully Riggott can now stay fit as his experience and skill will be crucial to the team and will have a big impact on where we finish at the end of this campaign.
Stephen Quinn v Mark Yeates
Quinn - Following loan moves to MK Dons and Rotherham over recent years, the Irish midfielder is now one of the Blades' main players after finding it difficult to gain a starting place in the side. Appearing in every league game so far this season, Quinn is sure to put himself about on the pitch and give our midfielders a tough battle.
Yeates - I think a lot of fans have been surprised how the Boro boss has not used Yeates at all in our last two fixtures, especially as he has put in some impressive displays of late. Adam Johnson's early injury against Man City was the perfect time to bring on the 24 year old, but by choosing to bring on Emnes instead, Strachan made it quite clear that he doesn't fancy him.
Henri Camara v Marcus Bent
Camara - Blackwell signed the Senegal international in October until the end of the campaign, making Sheffield United his 11th club.
Having started in just two of his eight appearances, Camara will be looking to increase his two goal tally by the end of the season and earn a contract extension at Bramall Lane.
Bent - Having extended his loan spell until this Saturday, the Birmingham striker now has one more game to make an impression on Teesside. From his seven appearances to date, Bent hasn't impressed many fans as he still searches for his first goal for Middlesbrough.
This is certainly a very tough place for any team to come to, with the Blades having lost just two home games this campaign.
We need to start this year as we mean to go on and, as difficult as it sounds, we ideally need three points from this fixture.
Despite Sheffield United's midweek FA cup victory affecting their fitness, I still think Kevin Blackwell's side have enough to get a 1-1 draw from the visit of the Teessiders.
