Relegated Sheffield United host Brighton as both sides look to get back to winning ways

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After their defeat against Wolves, Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades were relegated to the Championship and will now prepare for life back in the second tier.

Sheffield United have had a miserable season, 26 defeats after 32 Premier League matches has seen the Blades pick up just 14 points with a -39 goal difference. It’s a striking contrast to the heights they reached during the 2019/20 campaign where they narrowly missed out on a chance of playing in Europe.

Their last encounter against Wolverhampton Wanderers was a slim 1-0 defeat at Molineux, Willian Jose’s first goal for the West Midlands outfit on the hour mark was the final nail in the Blades’ coffin.

Heckingbottom’s side did have chances but they were unable to make them count in the end. The best coming from Enda Stevens’ in the 58th minute.

In their last 10 competitive games, the Blades have only managed to score just one goal and that came back at the start of April when they were close to pulling off a draw against Leeds United.

For Brighton and Hove Albion, they find themselves sat in 16th place, seven points clear of 18th-placed Fulham with one game in hand.

Graham Potter’s men haven’t had the easiest of rides this season, but their main aim will be to secure their Premier League status and carrying to build on the foundations they have put down.

Brighton coming into this fixture having drawn back to back games 0-0, as they aim for survival in the top flight for a fourth consecutive season.

The last time these two faced each other was back in December at the Amex. John Lundstram made the task hard for the then Blades’ manager Chris Wilder, as his side were down to 10-men right before the half-time interval.

That did not stop the Yorkshire side from taking the lead and it was Jayden Bogle that was able to get the visitors in front after 63 minutes.

But it was late heartbreak for Sheffield United as Danny Welbeck scored an equaliser with three minutes to go, which saw the points shared in Sussex.

The Seagulls have only been able to get three victories over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in 14 attempts and the Blades will try and get one over on their visitors this weekend.

On top of that Sheffield United have not lost against Brighton in the last five competitive games, and you would have to go back to January 2005 when the Blades last tasted defeat at the hands of the Seagulls, a 2-1 loss at Bramall Lane.

This is a crucial match for Brighton as they aim to make it a fifth successive season in the top flight, and a victory over the already relegated Sheffield United will be perfect in their bid for survival.

The Blades will look at this game as another match that will prepare them ahead of their upcoming season back in the Championship. A victory against Graham Potter’s Seagulls will be their first win since March 3rd when they beat Aston Villa 1-0 at Bramall Lane.

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