Championship | Gameweek 24

Dec 29, 2024 at 12.30pm UK

Bramall Lane

Sheffield United vs West Brom

Match preview

After a 10-match unbeaten run at Bramall Lane in the Championship - a run which included a sensational nine wins - Sheffield United were finally conquered at their formidable Yorkshire base on Boxing Day as promotion-chasing Burnley snatched all three points.

For the first time since the defeat at Middlesbrough at the end of October, the Blades failed to find the net in a second-tier game, with goals either side of half-time from midfielder Josh Brownhill and striker Zian Flemming securing maximum points for the Clarets.

Sheffield United's third defeat of the campaign on Boxing Day saw them drop from first to second in the Championship going into the final game of the calendar year, level on points with pacesetters Leeds United and just one ahead of Burnley in third.

Without a star attacker, the Blades have seen a number of their key men share the goalscoring burden this season, with summer signing Tyrese Campbell netting six times in the league, while fellow striker Kieffer Moore and midfield maestro Gustavo Hamer have both netted five times.

For the first time in 26 months, West Bromwich Albion played a Championship game on Boxing Day without Carlos Corberan barking orders from the sidelines, as the Spanish boss departed for La Liga giants Valencia just before midnight on Christmas Day.

A caretaker management team led by Albion legend Chris Brunt took charge of the managerless Baggies at Pride Park, where a first-half strike from Jerry Yates and an unfortunate own goal from Mason Holgate saw Derby emerge victorious in front of their home fans in the East Midlands.

Losing two of their last three games in the second tier has seen West Brom drop to eighth in the Championship table ahead of Sunday afternoon's trip to Yorkshire, two points behind sixth-placed Watford and 13 points behind second-placed Sheffield United.

Academy graduate Tom Fellows is emerging as one of the most productive wingers in the division, with the England Under-21 international bagging two assists last week with his trademark step-over-cross combination.

Recent Performance

Sheffield United Championship form:WDWWWL

West Bromwich Albion Championship form:DDWLWL

Team News

Despite finding the net in the reverse fixture at The Hawthorns a few weeks ago, Sheffield United's Campbell has been ruled out until the New Year with a back injury.

The Blades' options in attack are further limited by the absence of Femi Seriki, who picked up a niggling calf problem earlier this month.

Ollie Arblaster, who has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the Sheffield United engine room, has seen his progress curtailed by a knee injury sustained in November.

It was a Boxing Day to forget for West Brom's Holgate, who scored an own goal past Alex Palmer before picking up a minor groin problem in the closing stages at Pride Park.

As a result, caretaker boss Brunt may have to look to a new solution at the back for the Baggies, with Callum Styles one of the favourites to move into defence.

Possible starting lineup

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:

Cooper; Gilchrist, Souttar, Ahmedhodzic, Burrows; Davies, Peck, O'Hare, Brewster, Hamer; Moore

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Mowatt, Molumby; Fellows, Johnston, Diangana; Maja