[themaclad]

Off we go again on our travels still looking for that first elusive away point and goal and we rock up at Bramall Lane were we last scored an away goal and last picked up points away from home when we sneaked a 1-0 win albeit against the run of play last season with a goal by Alan Browne.
They have had a reasonable start this season although not scored in their last two games lost first game of the season at home to Harry Potter's Swansea however just before the International breal hammered Villa 4-1 drew at home to Birmingham last night 0-0
There were rumours of off the field problems during the close season apparently warring factions in the boardroom and manager Chris Wilder(pictured) was considering his future at the club.



A raft of new signings Henderson, Woodburn, Norburn, Washington, McGoldrick and Johnson played a part in last nights draw always hard to get anything at the Lane.

Here's what Wiki says

Sheffield United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The team competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football. The football club was formed in 1889 as an offshoot of Sheffield United Cricket Club, and are nicknamed The Blades due to Sheffield's history of steel production.[1] The club have played their home games at Bramall Lane since their formation in 1889. Bramall Lane is currently an all-seater ground with a capacity of 32,702.

Sheffield United won the original Football League in 1898 and the FA Cup in 1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925. They were beaten finalists in the FA Cup in 1901 and 1936, and reached the semi-finals in 1961, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2014. They reached the semi-finals of the League Cup in 2003 and 2015.

For most of the club's history they have played in red and white striped shirts with black shorts. Their closest rivals are Sheffield Wednesday, with whom they contest the Steel City derby.

Mac's memories

Only seen us when once at this place cup replay three years ago first visit was in 1969 lost 4-0 was still a cricket ground then .
Team wise is anybody's guess in Alex's wheel of fortune however I hazard a guess at seven this Saturday starts to be given to Maxwell, Hughes, Storey, Ledson, Gallagher, Nmecha and Barker

Ref Watch: Sheffield United

For Saturday’s trip over the Pennines we have Northumberland official Scott Duncan taking charge as the match referee.

Scott took charge of three North End games last season, although he unfortunately only finished one! The official was appointed to take charge of the last game before Christmas, at home to Nottingham Forest, but picked up an injury early in the game and was replaced by the fourth official.

That was his second PNE appointment of the campaign, having been the man with the whistle for our goalless draw at Leeds United – our opening away game of the season back in August 2017, as well as the home clash with Ipswich Town.

The season before that he refereed the 3-0 home win over Reading in March of last year, which was his third PNE game of that season, having been referee for the EFL Cup win over Oldham Athletic at Deepdale and the defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in early December.

In 2015/16 he was the match official for the League Cup tie at Crewe Alexandra, which saw a 3-1 win for the Lilywhites and the year before that he took charge of the team twice, both at Deepdale, our 1-0 home win over Oldham back in August 2014 and the 2-2 draw with Leyton Orient in January.

This is Scott’s seventh year on the EFL lists, having been appointed to the elite group in 2012/13, taking charge of his first PNE game in what proved to be Graham Westley’s final home game, against Shrewsbury Town.

This will be his second Sheffield United game of the season, although his first at Bramall Lane, refereeing their 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers in August, one of his eight games so far in 2018/19, where he has issued 24 cautions and two red cards.

On Saturday he will be assisted by Mark Dwyer and Geoffrey Russell, whilst Martin Coy is the fourth official.

Team News: Sheffield United
J
Manager Alex Neil welcomes back the first of his suspended midfield duo, with Ryan Ledson available for selection after missing the last three games following his red card at Leeds United last month

Ben Pearson is missing the final game of his three-match ban, whilst Alan Browne came through Tuesday night’s trip to Elland Road unscathed, giving the gaffer midfield options for the trip to Bramall Lane.

Sean Maguire, Calum Woods and Billy Bodin are ruled out, with their longer-term injuries, but the North End boss has options should he wish to make changes for the clash with Chris Wilder’s Blades.
United midfielder John Fleck recovered from a groin injury to be involved in their game hosting Birmingham City on Wednesday night and he should be fine to continue against the Lilywhites.
PNE’s former midfield man Paul Coutts, who has been out for a year with a broken leg, got some good news this week as he played 90 minutes of an U23 game, but may need more matches before he returns to the starting XI in the first team.

Before the clash with the Blues Wilder said that his summer strengthening will allow him to make changes for the two games coming in the space of 72 hours, so the side that played Garry Monk’s outfit may not be the one that lines up against North End on Saturday afternoon, with the Blades boss having chosen to make five changes for the goalless draw with the second city side

[themaclad]

Sheffield United 3 Sharp, Basham, McGoldrick Preston North End 2 Robinson, Johnson

Sheffield United line-up: Henderson, Stevens, Fleck, O’Connell, Basham, Sharp © (M Johnson, 75), Egan, Norwood, McGoldrick (Stearman, 90), Freeman, Duffy (L Carke, 85). Subs not used: Lundstram, Woodburn, Moore, Washington.

PNE line-up: Maxwell, Clarke ©, Huntington, Davies, Fisher, Hughes, Ledson (Harrop, 90), Gallagher (Johnson, 62), Browne, Robinson, Barkhuizen (Barker, 71). Subs not used: Rudd, Earl, Moult, Burke.

Attendance: 23,857 (658 PNE fans)

Referee: Mr S Duncan

So close yet so far and another defeat sends us bottom of the league on goal difference from the Tractors. however there were positives from today's game first one being that we scored away from home but for the last half hour or so they actually started to play some decent football.
A nightmare last seven miles from the motorway to the ground saw us have to walk the last half mile or so to the ground due to traffic congestion, mainly due to pesky students arriving for their first year at Uni.
As for the game Neil made five changes with Maxwell playing his first league game of the season between the sticks. Pinned back for most the early stages with United passing teh ball about well and always seeming to have extra men spare on either flanks usually both attacking centre backs, always had space to fire in cross into the box in the main we dealt with them although McGoldrick went narrowly wide with a header.
Weathered the early storm and created half chances usually it was Robinson who worked his socks off today, we got round the back of the United defence but cross found a home defender and apart from a Robinson shot which went narrowly over did not really trouble the United keeper,
As with Tuesday at Leeds went one down in the 37th minute the goal was similar to the second Leeds scored, one of our attacks broke down a long ball into the channel, McGoldrick in space cross to Sharp does not miss from five yards. No more than United deserved.



Second have early free kick right hand side inch perfect cross Basham back header two down, Heads didn't go down possibly United eased down but seemed to me we started to relax the ball was played faster and we looked a bit more like a team, Johnson and Barker's arrival also helped and Brker fed in Fisher cross to the far post and glory be our first away goal of the season. Consolation but no minutes later we were level a bit of scramble in teh box and Johnson scores, Level.
Bizarrely had this daft though we may win this but the usual defensive liability struck again with five minutes left, O'Connell seemed to carry the ball for at least 50 yards arrived at the by line ball across and McGoldrick scored. No comeback this time.
Bottom with the Albion up next in the league, Pearson available again just need to sort the defence out a tad leaky at the moment.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder:

"I'm delighted and proud with the way we set up.

"It was never dull, but the players showed tremendous character to get themselves back up off the canvas.

"I'm delighted we got our noses in front and the swagger about us was good to see."

Preston manager Alex Neil:

"That's been the story of the season so far. When we look like the side who's going to win and we've got a foothold back into the game, we get hurt with a sucker-punch.

"But it's about more than that. It's about game management, experience and recognising we can still throw caution to the wind along with the hard work.

"We scored two goals so there is definitely a threat there, but as a team we've got to stop conceding as many goals as we are."