Sheffield United will be smelling Birmingham City blood for one very clear reason | OneFootball

Sheffield United will host Birmingham City at Bramall Lane on Saturday

Sheffield United’s attempts to climb the Championship table have hit a stumbling block in the last week but the chance to host Birmingham City this weekend might be the perfect opportunity to get back on track.

The Blades endured a difficult start to the campaign, but a run of 13 points from 15 from 8 November to 6 December saw them climb out of the relegation zone.

Wins over the likes of bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday, as well as Portsmouth, Leicester City and Stoke City gave the club optimism that a play-off charge could still be on the cards in the second half of the season.

However, a draw with Norwich City and a loss to West Brom have put the brakes on that feeling, leaving the team 18th in the table and 11 points behind sixth place Hull City.

Chris Wilder will be keen to get his side back to winning ways before Christmas, with a clash against Birmingham representing their last chance at three points before the holidays.

Sheffield United should be encouraged by Birmingham City’s away record

Sheffield United will be sizing up Birmingham in the couple days and should realise they are a perfect opponent to face at this moment.

Chris Davies’ side have performed well since coming up from League One in the summer, and they sit 13th in the table prior to their trip to Bramall Lane.

But their record away from home has cost them dearly, with the Midlands outfit sitting 21st in the table of away results so far this season.

From 11 games on the road, the Blues have won just two, losing seven, and a goal difference of minus nine.

Birmingham’s last win away from St. Andrew’s came on 21 October with a 1-0 victory at Deepdale, and since then they have lost to Middlesbrough, Southampton and QPR, as well as draw with West Brom.

Sheffield United’s home record isn’t the greatest this season either, with the Blades sitting 20th in the home table, earning 11 points from 10 games.

However, those 11 points have all come from their last six fixtures, so this upturn in recent form has been built on turning Bramall Lane back into a hard place to go.

Sheffield United need Birmingham result to keep top six hopes alive

If Sheffield United are going to mount an unlikely turnaround to earn a play-off place, then a win against Birmingham feels like a must.

The gap to the play-offs is already 11 points after their defeat to West Brom last weekend, and it’s hard to see them gaining back the ground they need if that increases to 14 after the game against Birmingham.

Given Davies’ side have struggled on the road, Sheffield United must take advantage and continue improving their own form at home.

Wilder is an experienced coach, and there’s no way this won’t be a key part of his message to his players ahead of their meeting on Saturday.

The veteran manager will smell blood and will encourage his player to play on the front foot, as a bright start will only serve them well.

If the Blades can get an early goal, then Birmingham’s record will start playing on their minds, and it will be hard to see them recovering.

Injuries have taken their toll on the Sheffield United squad lately, which will make it even tougher to overturn the deficit to the top six.