Sheffield United host Burnley at the weekend with both teams desperately needing a win to give themselves a slim chance of avoiding relegation. The fixture between the sides is one of three fixtures, where six of the bottom seven will be pitted against each other.
Location: Bramall Lane
Date: 20/04/24
Kick-off: 3.00 pm
The game at Bramall Lane sees last season’s top two in the Championship come head-to-head in contrasting circumstances to when they faced each other at the same time last year. Both sides are lumbered to the bottom of the Premier League, although a win for either side will essentially condemn the other to the prospect of relegation.
Sheffield United have had a turbulent season on and off the pitch. The Blades have recently been imposed a two-point deduction for the next time they will be in the EFL, which Chris Wilder will have to navigate around if he’s still at the club. Wilder re-joined the club, replacing Paul Heckingbottom and now it would appear Wilder be suffering his second relegation with the Blades from the Premier League.
The hosts are currently bottom of the league as it stands, although you could argue that performances have at least improved somewhat under the management of Chris Wilder. Under Heckingbottom the club only had five points from 15 games, whereas Wilder has obtained 11 points from 17. Sheffield United currently have 16 points from 32 games, however, they do have a game in hand over Burnley.
Defensively speaking, the Blades have been extremely poor in that regard. The hosts have conceded 84 goals in 32 games – which averages 2.6 goals per game. The Blades have been on the receiving end of some horrific results including an 8-0 loss at home to Newcastle United.
A win for the home side would leave them bottom of the league still, although they would move on to 19 points and would require a bizarre set of results to give themselves an outside chance of survival.
The visitors head to Bramall Lane, knowing that nothing else but a win would ultimately scupper any chances of survival they may have. Burnley were the dominant champions of the English second tier last season and now they are on course to return at the first time of asking.
The Clarets are currently 19th, having played a game more than their opponents with 33 on the board. Burnley are four points above Sheffield United and are only five points away from Luton Town. A win would move them further clearer of their opponents, with the hope that Luton Town will drop points at home to Brentford.
Burnley’s time in the Premier League has been frustrating for Vincent Kompany to say the least. Despite the poor performances, they’ve been aided by the financial penalties imposed on Everton and Nottingham Forest which has given them cautious optimism. Vincent Kompany’s side have obtained 20 points this season from 33 games played – which gives them an average of 0.6 points per game.
Defensively, they have been marginally better than their opposition, conceding 68 goals this season. Burnley boasts a better average of 2.1 goals conceded to Sheffield United’s 2.6. The away side have scored 33 goals this season, three goals greater than their opponents.
The previous game between the two teams finished in a resounding win for Burnley. Vincent Kompany’s men were 5-0 winners over the Blades. Sheffield United were down to ten men on the stroke of half-time when Oliver McBurnie was dismissed.
Premier League 
