Sheffield United v Walsall Match Guide: Teams, player to watch, betting, referee and past meetings
So the Blades will look to get back to winning ways when Walsall head to Bramall Lane tonight (7.45).
POSSIBLE TEAMS
Sheffield United: Simon Moore, Jack O’Connell, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Daniel Lafferty, Kieron Freeman, Paul Coutts, John Fleck, Mark Duffy, Matt Done, Billy Sharp
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Hide AdWalsall: Neil Etheridge, James O’Connor, Scott Laird, Jason McCarthy, Matt Preston, Joe Edwards, Kieron Morris, Adam Chambers, Josh Ginnelly, Erhun Oztumer, Andreas Makris
PLAYER TO WATCH
Erhun Oztumer: Born in Greenwich, Walsall’s leading goalscorer this season played for Sivasspor and Anadolu Üsküdar in Turkey before returning to England with Dulwich Hamlet in 2012. He joined Walsall from Peterborough United.
HISTORY LESSON
Sheffield United were beaten by Walsall at Bramall Lane earlier this season when Jon Whitney’s side ended their Checkatrade Trophy hopes. Although Chris Wilder, who has called for the competition to be abolished, shed no tears after that result, he is desperate to win tonight following Saturday’s draw with Charlton Athletic. United, who will climb to second in the table if they win, prevailed 2-0 in the corresponding fixture last term having earlier drawn 1-1 at the Banks’s Stadium. Tonight’s match will be the 32nd competitive meeting between these two clubs, a rivalry which dates back to 1893. United have won 43 per cent of those matches with 32 per cent ending all-square. Indeed, when United beat Walsall seven months ago, it ended a run of three straight draws.
BETTING
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
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Hide AdDarren England: From South Yorkshire, England assisted Jonathan Moss during last year’s FA Cup final between Arsenal and Aston Villa. Tonight’s match at Bramall Lane will be his 18th of the season so far. He has sent-off five players, including one during a League One fixture between Wimbledon and Gillingham, and averages 2.76 cautions per game.