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Sheffield United logo
Championship | Gameweek 39
Mar 19, 2022 at 12.30pm UK
Bramall Lane
Barnsley

Sheff Utd
2 - 0
Barnsley

Berge (54'), Gibbs-White (76')
Gordon (58')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Brittain (72')

Preview: Sheffield United vs. Barnsley - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Sheffield United and Barnsley, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United and Barnsley meet at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon, with the two clubs chasing very different goals in the Championship.

The Blades have playoff hopes and are currently one point behind the top six in ninth place, while the Tykes are 22nd and chasing safety.


Match preview

Sheffield United's Billy Sharp celebrates after scoring their first goal  on March 4, 2022© Reuters

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom was born in Barnsley, made 53 appearances for the Tykes as a player and started his coaching career at the club – spending 20 months as permanent boss and winning promotion from League One in 2016.

The Blades are unbeaten on home turf since the 44-year-old was appointed in November, taking 20 points from a possible 24 at Bramall Lane and keeping six clean sheets from those eight games.

Meanwhile, only West Bromwich Albion have conceded fewer goals at home in the Championship this season (12) than Sheffield United (13).

However, the Blades are currently going through their worst spell of form under Heckingbottom, having won just one of their last five matches.

They were left frustrated in midweek as they were held to a 0-0 draw away at Blackpool, with Sander Berge and Oliver Norwood both having goals ruled out for offside.

Barnsley manager Poya Asbaghi on March 12, 2022© Reuters

Barnsley boosted their survival chances with a 2-0 win over Bristol City at Oakwell on Tuesday, with Carlton Morris and Michal Helik finding the net inside the opening 21 minutes.

The result moved Poya Asbaghi's side to within two points of 21st-placed Reading, who they host immediately after the international break.

The Tykes, who are the Championship's lowest scorers, are unbeaten in three matches; that is their longest run without defeat so far this season.

However, they have picked up just one win and seven points away from home this season and have lost 13 of their last 15 games on the road in all competitions.

Moreover, Barnsley have only won one of their last six meetings with Sheffield United; Lys Mousset scored twice as the Blades triumphed 3-2 in this season's reverse fixture at Oakwell.

Sheffield United Championship form:
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D

Barnsley Championship form:
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D
  • W



Team News

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom on March 4, 2022© Reuters

Sheffield United continue to battle a severe injury crisis, with Paul Heckingbottom only able to name one senior outfield player on the bench against Blackpool in midweek.

John Fleck and Oli McBurnie are the only members of the walking wounded who have a chance of returning for this weekend's game.

Billy Sharp has not found the net in his last two appearances; the Blades skipper has not gone three matches without a goal since November.

Barnsley striker Carlton Morris was forced off injured after scoring against Bristol City on Tuesday, but he will train on Friday and the Tykes hope to have him available.

If he is not passed fit, Devante Cole or Aaron Leya Iseka will be Poya Asbaghi's options to fulfil the lone striker role.

Cauley Woodrow (knee) and Victor Adeboyejo (cheekbone) remain sidelined, but there is no injury issue with Josh Benson, who was absent from the matchday squad in midweek.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Robinson, Egan, Gordon; Osborn, Berge, Norwood, Norrington-Davies; Gibbs-White, Ndiaye; Sharp

Barnsley possible starting lineup:
Collins; Brittain, Helik, Andersen, Vita; Wolfe, Gomes; Styles, Bassi, Quina; Morris


SM words green background

We say: Sheffield United 2-1 Barnsley

Sheffield United would have been heavy favourites for this game a couple of weeks ago, but their stuttering form and injury crisis combined with Barnsley's growing confidence makes this game slightly harder to predict. The Blades should still just about edge it, but do not be surprised to see the Tykes take a point.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Sheffield United win with a probability of 66.33%. A draw had a probability of 20.5% and a win for Barnsley had a probability of 13.18%.

The most likely scoreline for a Sheffield United win was 1-0 with a probability of 13.03%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (12.86%) and 2-1 (9.57%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (9.69%), while for a Barnsley win it was 0-1 (4.91%). The actual scoreline of 2-0 was predicted with a 12.9% likelihood. Our team at Sports Mole and our data analysis both correctly predicted that Sheffield United would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Sheff Utd vs Barnsley

Sheffield United
71.9%
Draw
15.6%
Barnsley
12.5%
32
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Bournemouth's Ryan Christie celebrates after scoring their first goal on March 8, 2022
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


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