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Sheff Utd Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 03/03/2003

AFTER Saturday’s abysmal performance at home to Coventry, the Mariners need to get back on track as soon as possible and Tuesday’s game with Sheffield United gives them an immediate chance to do just that.

Home > 2002-2003 Season > Previews > Sheff Utd (h)


The Bottom Line

Town have to win. A draw is not good enough. Neither is less than 110% effort.

The Opposition - Any Good?

The Blades have an array of talent in their ranks. At the back they have Welsh international Robert Page and Australian Shaun Murphy who have formed a decent partnership in defence. However, going forward United have showed their worth this season with none other than Steve Kabba (left) being instrumental in their rise through the division. Town fans know all about Kabba after his loan spell earlier in the season and the Town defence, the leakiest in the division, will have to be on top form to stop him and his ex Middlesbrough strike partner, Dean Windass.

Recent Form

 

TownSheff Utd
LCoventry(h)0-2
DIpswich(a)0-2
LGillingham(a)0-4
WStoke(a)3-3
LPortsmouth(h)0-3
WRotherham(a)2-1
LNorwich(h)0-1
LReading(h)1-3
WWalsall (cup)(h)2-0
LIpswich(a)2-3

Players To Watch

 

TownSheff Utd

Georges Santos

Dean Windass

Tuesday night is a massive game for the Mariners and big George Santos will be out there to prove a point against his old employers. Santos was released from Bramall Lane at the end of last season after the "Battle of Bramall Lane" and faces the Blades for the first time since then. But if Saturday is anything to go by, the Big George will be Town’s "player to watch" since only he and John McDermott came out of that game with any credibility at all. His performance and how he handles himself will have a massive effect on the game.

Windass is now in his second spell at Bramall Lane after previously only being with Sheffield United on a loan deal and is now a permanent member of the squad. Although he hasn’t scored a tonne of goals, netting only... , he has had an effect on the team, forming an excellent partnership with Steve Kabba. His holding up of the ball and all round awareness means that others can fend off him and will have to be a marked man on Tuesday night.

Top Scorers

 

TownSheff Utd

Kabba 6
Campbell 5
Oster 5
Pouton 4

Brown 13
Asaba 9
Allison 7
Tonge 7
Ndlovu 7

Team News

 

TownSheff Utd

  • Town could make a number of changes to the side that collapsed in the hands of Coventry on Saturday. The most likely change would be Steve Livingstone, Chris Thompson or Darren Mansaram coming in for a midfield player, with Richard Hughes or Stacy Coldicott the most likely to get the chop.

  • Also a possibility is the return of Steve Chettle in place of Simon Ford who is showing signs of tiredness at the back for Town, and of course did not have the best of days on Saturday when he scored an own goal and gave away a penalty.

  • Fans were disgruntled with Town’s lack if width on Saturday and would hope to see the inclusion of wingers Darren Barnard and Terry Cooke in the team but the best they can hope for is perhaps a place on the bench.
  • The Blades have not suffered any new injury problems since Friday’s game with Rotherham, but are still without the likes of Steve Yates, Rob Ullathorne and Iffy Onoura.

  • One change will probably be on the bench with John Curtis arriving on loan from Blackburn and going straight into the 16.

  • Warnock may also consider the inclusion of Newcastle defender Wayne Quinn who sat out on Friday night in place of Rob Kozluk.

  • Not included will be another ex Mariner, Jason Gavin who is currently on trial with the Yorkshire side.

  • Striker Tommy Mooney will not be included in the squad either after having his loan move from Birimingham cut short, six weeks before his three month deal expires.
  • Probable Starting XI's

     

    TownSheff Utd
    Danny Coyne
    John McDermott
    Steve Chettle
    George Santos
    Tony Gallimore
    Stuart Campbell
    Alan Pouton
    Richard Hughes
    John Oster
    Michael Boulding
    Steve Livingstone
    Paddy Kenny
    Rob Kozluk
    Robert Page
    Shaun Murphy
    Phil Jagielka
    Nick Montgomery
    Stuart McCall
    Peter Ndlovu
    Michael Brown
    Dean Windass
    Steve Kabba

    Subs

     

    TownSheff Utd
    Simon Ford
    Stacy Coldicott
    Darren Mansaram
    Darren Barnard
    Sean Allaway (GK)
    John Curtis
    Paul Peschisolido
    Wayne Allison
    Wayne Quinn
    Owen Morrison

    Last Time Out

    The two sides met of course back in September when Sheffield United won 2-1 thanks to two late goals, leaving Town with two points from their first seven games. The Mariners had the lead for most of the match with ex loan player Paul Robinson scoring his one and only game for the Mariners but for the first of many times in the season Town let slip a lead in the latter stages of the game.

    Town Team: Coyne, McDermott, Ford, Groves, Chettle, Coldicott, Campbell, Barnard (Cooke), Pouton, Kabba, Robinson.
    Subs (not used): Rowan, Mansaram, Raven, Allaway

    Attendance: 12,420    Report

    Sheff Utd Head-to-Head (96th on The Opposition Ladder).

    Prediction

    Fishy prediction: I have a good feeling about this game ... Town to win ... 3-1 Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.




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