Sheffield United vs Cardiff City – Preview | OneFootball

Relegation strugglers Cardiff City will head to Bramall Lane on Good Friday to face a Sheffield United side that have lost three games in a row.

The Blades have all but chucked their automatic promotion hopes away by losing to Oxford United, Millwall and Plymouth Argyle last week.

Last week highlighted United’s glaring weakness; despite having loads of the ball, they cannot break down low blocks because they don’t move the ball quick enough, and when they do get into the final third, they resort to aimlessly sending crosses into the box.

At the other end of the pitch, they have looked considerably poor at defending counterattacks because they are consistently pushing bodies forward in order to try and break through the opposition’s resilient defensive line.

Cardiff City, currently sat in 22nd, were narrowly beaten by Stoke City last time out, Bluebirds centre-back William Fish scored an own goal in the 85th minute. Before that fixture, Cardiff were unbeaten in five and had strung four draws back-to-back.

Team News

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder had pencilled in Tom Davies’ return to the matchday squad for the Plymouth Argyle fixture, however, there was no signs of the former Everton man on the bench last weekend. It remains to be seen how close the midfielder is to being back in contention.

Cardiff have a number of players that have suffered season-ending injuries of late. Experienced goalkeeper Jak Alnwick joins midfielder Aaron Ramsey on this list, with both having serious hamstring issues. Joe Ralls will also miss the rest of the campaign because of a calf injury.

Meanwhile, Omer Riza has hinted that versatile forward Anwar El Ghazi could be available for Friday’s game. But, there are doubts over Andy Rinomhota’s fitness.

Sheffield United’s Impact Player For This Game

OXFORD, ENGLAND – APRIL 05: Femi Seriki of Sheffield United FC controls the ball under pressure from Siriki Dembele of Oxford United during the Sky Bet Championship match between Oxford United FC and Sheffield United FC at Kassam Stadium on April 05, 2025 in Oxford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

If the previous games are anything to go by then it looks as though Callum O’Dowda will be lining up in a left-wingback role for Cardiff, and while he is a good operator at Championship level, he can certainly be exposed against the Blades.

Femi Seriki is probably up there as one of the best athletes in the whole of the EFL. He has bags of pace and agility, and he possesses great power when running, so he is very difficult to knock off the ball.

United have massively struggled with breaking down tight and compact defences over the last few games, and the opposition have invited crosses from wide. Someone like Seriki, who can take on players on and get to the byline, could help against that. But, ideally he does not want Ben Brereton Diaz playing on the right.

The attacking right-back is averaging four progressive carries per 90 (98th percentile), over four take-on attempts per 90 and over two of those on average are successful (both 97th percentile). Plus, he ranks extraordinarily high for carries into the penalty area from full-back, ranking in the 99th percentile compared to positional peers in the Championship.

While these stats are excellent, having Brereton Diaz on his side limits his ability to explode down the right flank. Over on the right, the Chilean tends to stand in the right half-space, and because he has no intention of cutting inside on his much weaker left foot, the opposition are already prepared to double up on Seriki once the ball is shifted to the outside. Thus making it far more difficult for the young right-back to do anything.

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi being played down the right would definitely help in this regard because he cuts inside regularly and has scored some quality goals from these types of situations.

Due to the trickery and athleticism that both Rak-Sakyi and Seriki possess, the opposition will have to overcommit to defend either the inside zone or the outside zone, and as a result, opens up more space for the one they choose to ‘leave’.

Those two doubling up down O’Dowda’s side should pay dividends in this game.

Cardiff City’s Impact Player For This Game

CARDIFF, WALES – JANUARY 25: Callum Robinson of Cardiff City celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Cardiff City FC and Derby County FC at the Cardiff City Stadium on January 25, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

A man that did not set the world on fire during his short stint at Sheffield United is Callum Robinson. Part of that reason is because the versatile wide forward was being deployed as a number nine in a regimental 5-3-2 shape.

This season for the Bluebirds, the 30-year-old Irish international has bagged 12 times and served up an assist in 34 Championship appearances, which is quite good considering he does not take penalties, nor is he a target to aim for in the box for crosses or corners.

Despite playing for the third-worst team in the division, Robinson ranks in the 82nd percentile for goals per shot compared to other Championship forwards. He also ranks in the 80th percentile for key passes per 90 as well as 81st percentile for shot-creating actions per 90.

In recent games, the Blades have left Anel Ahmedhodzic and Jack Robinson exposed at the back, and the pacey players for the opposition have looked very dangerous for Oxford, Millwall and Plymouth. I wouldn’t say Callum Robinson is the quickest, but he does have that burst of acceleration which could exploit United once more. Especially given that he ranks in the 89th percentile for successful take-on percentage per 90.

My Prediction

Sheffield United must put three points on the board this weekend in order to try and get some confidence back into the supporters and the squad. A game against a Cardiff team, who rank fourth worst in the league for non-penalty xG, and fifth worst in the league at converting chances, provides the Blades an ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways. The Blades win this 2-0.

All stats taken from FBref and Opta.