Sheffield United v Preston: mid-table rivals level on points chase late season lift | OneFootball

Sheffield United host Preston in the Championship at Bramall Lane on Saturday, 25 April, with both sides level on 57 points and looking to edge towards the top half.

Sheffield United and Preston North End sit 14th and 16th respectively, and the reverse fixture finished 3-2 to Preston in October. With little between them, the margins may be fine again.

The Blades have won two of their last three league games, beating Watford 2-0 away and Hull 2-1 before a 3-1 home loss to Blackburn. Preston are winless in two after defeats to Birmingham and West Brom, having previously won at Charlton and drawn with QPR and Leicester.

Injuries are biting on both sides. Sheffield United are without Kalvin Phillips, Tyrese Campbell, Michael Cooper, Jamie Shackleton and Sam McCallum. Preston miss Benjamin Whiteman, Callum Lang, Jamal Lewis and Alistair McCann.

The Blades average 52% possession with 77.91% passing accuracy this season, and creative fulcrum Gustavo Hamer leads the Championship assists chart with 11. His supply to 11-goal Patrick Bamford could be decisive. Preston's route may come from wide. They rank high for open play crosses, delivering 628 at 19.43% accuracy, and have scored 10 headed goals, so service into the box for their forwards could test the home defence.

A win would lift the Blades to 60 points and could nudge them towards the top half. Preston would also reach 60 with victory and may make similar ground, while anything less risks leaving both sides marooned in mid-table with two games to go.