Portsmouth vs Sheffield United – Preview
Sheffield United travel to the south coast on Wednesday evening to face Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
The home side enter this contest off the back of a defeat to bitter rivals Southampton. Before that, they managed draws against Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic.
Chris Wilder’s side needed a big performance and result coming out of the international break, and they delivered a vital three points at the weekend with a 3-0 win at home to Lincoln City, thanks to a brace from Patrick Bamford and a first goal for Tahith Chong.
Team News
Pompey are having to contend with several injury problems. Experienced winger Josh Murphy is dealing with a groin issue, while Connor Ogilvie and Conor Shaughnessy have soft tissue injuries. On loan Brentford defender Benjamin Arthur is also doubtful.
The Blades will see Femi Seriki return to the matchday squad soon, but this midweek game arrives too soon for him. United welcomed Sam McCallum back to the starting eleven on Saturday, and he produced a solid performance with an assist to add to the clean sheet. Ryan Oné also made the bench.
Meanwhile, Kalvin Phillips was not involved against Lincoln as his fitness and availability continues to be inconsistent
With three games in a week, Wilder could look to make a couple of changes down at Portsmouth.
Portsmouth’s Impact Player For This Game
The home team will be looking to start the game fast and strong in front of their supporters following a local derby defeat.
One man that can help set the tone and physicality early on is 30-year-old midfielder Ebou Adams. The towering Gambian is one of the most powerful and physical players in the whole of the Championship.
Adams already has a goal and an assist to his name this season, though that’s not necessarily his game. He thrives in duels and combative moments, averaging almost four interceptions and tackles combined per game, as well as over five duels, and over three ball recoveries per game.
Look for Adams to make runs forward in and around the penalty area and impose himself in the attacking third. His size almost always forces opponents to have two men in his vicinity whenever he looks to latch onto crosses.
Sheffield United’s Impact Player For This Game
United may have put three goals past Lincoln City on Saturday but it wasn’t exactly a vintage performance from Wilder’s side.
However, Patrick Bamford showed his excellent qualities with two superb one-touch finishes to bag himself a brace.
It just proves that the experienced striker can have an extremely quiet day yet produce a moment of magic when his team needs it the most. And Blades fans will be hoping he can come up with the goods once again on Wednesday night.
Bamford’s technical ability is first class, as proved with his two goals at the weekend. United’s midfielders should look to feed him the ball to feet in this game around the edge of the box; with Chong looking impressive, he can drop into the pocket and slide the ball through to Chong’s running path in behind the Portsmouth defence.
My Prediction
The home time should have fire in their belly after being defeated by bitter rivals Southampton on Sunday. This is something that the Blades must prepare for; an inevitable fast start.
Once Wilder’s team can withstand the early storm look for the away side to settle into a rhythm and eventually find the quality to record another win here. Sheffield United will edge this one 1-0.
Stats taken from Fotmob.
