Most pundits are forecasting a win for Sheffield United at The Valley tomorrow, the consensus being a 1-2 scoreline.
The Sheffield Star sees it as a golden chance to reboot the Blades' promotion bid:
'Ahead of Saturday’s trip to The Valley to face Charlton Athletic, the Blades find themselves nine points shy of sixth-placed Watford with 21 games to go. With 63 points to play for, their promotion dream is still very much alive.
As manager Chris Wilder would no doubt say himself, there is
no such thing as an easy game in the Championship, meaning the Blades will have
to be at 100 per cent each and every week if they are to extend their season
come May.
Of course, though, there are some fixtures on the calendar
that look easier than others, and this weekend’s trip to Charlton, with
respect, is a contest that United really ought to be taking three points from
if they are serious about storming their way through the pack and securing a
top six berth.
The Addicks, who won 1-0 at Bramall Lane in Wilder’s first
game back in charge of the Blades in September, have been on a downward spiral
since the beginning of November, winning just two of their last 13 league
matches, losing seven. Winning just ten points during that period, only
Sheffield Wednesday (five) have won fewer.
Since their September meeting in horrendous conditions at
Bramall Lane, both sides have moved in opposite directions, with United
currently three places and three points above the Addicks in the standings.
Charlton moved 12 places and eight points above the Blades after winning 1-0 in
S2.
With United now tracking in the right direction, enjoying a
solid run of form since the November international break, the Blades will
travel to the capital on Saturday afternoon as favourites to scoop all three
points.
However, when it has come to facing newly promoted teams on
the road since the beginning of last season, United have not had an awful lot
of success, winning just one of their last five games against Championship
newcomers.
Last season, when coming up against the newly promoted teams
on the road, the Blades only managed to get the better of Derby County, winning
1-0 at Pride Park in February, while they drew 0-0 with Portsmouth and lost 1-0
at Oxford United.
So far this campaign, the Blades have been beaten 2-1 by
Birmingham City on the road, albeit in the Carabao Cup, and were on the wrong
end of a 5-3 scoreline against Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on Boxing Day.
Charlton, as highlighted with their win at Bramall Lane on
the sixth weekend of the campaign, started this season in positive fashion,
feeding off the surge in momentum generated by beating Leyton Orient in last
season’s League One play-off final. However, they have been on a downward
spiral since the October international break.
On the flip side, they did earn a point in their recent
clash with Coventry City at The Valley, drawing 1-1 on New Year’s Day,
highlighting their ability to match the division’s big hitters.
Nevertheless, United should look at Saturday’s trip to The
Valley as an opportunity to try and close the gap on the top six.'
Let's hope pride comes before a fall.
CAS Trust point out that the Blades aee prone to condeding goals, no fewer than four against mighty Mansfield in the FA Cup last weekend, although no doubt they will be looking to compensate for that defeat: https://www.castrust.org/2026/01/sheffield-united/
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