Sheffield United will be looking to boost their playoff hopes when they welcome Cardiff City to Bramall Lane for their Championship encounter on Saturday.

The Blades have failed to win any of their last three league games, while the Bluebirds will be seeking to avoid a third consecutive defeat.

Match preview

Sheffield United's playoff hopes are hanging by a thread following a poor run of form which has seen them win only two of their last eight league matches.

The Blades have failed to win any of their last three, including the 1-1 draw away at Bristol City on Easter Monday, which saw Morgan Gibbs-White score his 10th league goal of the season to cancel out Chris Martin's opener.

Paul Heckingbottom's side will now be looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack as they are clinging on to sixth spot by just one point. Middlesbrough in ninth could potentially leapfrog them on goal difference if they were to win their game in hand by four or more goals.

Sheffield United lost their most recent home match against a resurgent Reading side, who ended the host's 12-game unbeaten run at Bramall Lane, but the Blades will be hoping for better fortunes against Cardiff, a side who they beat 3-2 in December's reverse fixture.

Victory for Heckingbottom's men would see them complete a league double over the Bluebirds for the first time since the 1984-85 season.

Cardiff are on course for their worse second-tier finish since the 2003-04 campaign (16th place) following a run of three defeats in their last four league games.

A heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Welsh rivals Swansea City was followed up with a 2-1 win away at Reading, but they have since suffered a 2-1 defeat at Hull City and a 1-0 loss at home to Luton Town, the latter of which was their 21st defeat of the season.

The Bluebirds are currently sitting 17th in the Championship table, seven points behind Blackpool in 16th with just four games remaining.

Steve Morison will fancy his side's chances of returning to winning ways on Saturday, as Cardiff are unbeaten in their last six away league visits to Sheffield United since a 2-1 defeat back in December 2004.

Since the turn of the year, Cardiff have had plenty of joy in front of goal on their travels as they have scored in each of their last nine away games, but only three of these matches has seen them come away with maximum points.

Team News

Gibbs-White led the line in attack for Sheffield United last time out as the Blades were without a recognised striker, but Heckingbottom is hopeful that top scorer Billy Sharp can return to first-team action on Saturday.

Heckingbottom has also revealed, however, that he is 'concerned' by the muscle injury that George Baldock sustained last weekend, and with Jayden Bogle already sidelined with a knee problem, Ben Osborn could be selected to play at right wing-back.

The Blades will also have to cope without Oli McBurnie (foot), David McGoldrick (thigh), Rhian Brewster (hamstring), Jack O'Connell and Charlie Goode (both knee) due to injury.

As for Cardiff, Alex Smithies (leg), Isaac Vassell (knee), Max Watters (ankle) and Sean Morrison (ACL) are all ruled out with injuries.

Morison may revert to a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation after opting to use a 4-2-3-1 system against Luton, which could see either Aden Flint or Mark McGuinness start in the back three alongside Perry Ng and Curtis Nelson.

Jordan Hugill is set to lead the line again while Manchester City loanee Tommy Doyle could be handed another start in centre-midfield alongside Ryan Wintle.

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Basham, Egan, Davies; Osborn, Norwood, Berge, Fleck, Stevens; Gibbs-White, Sharp

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Phillips; Ng, Flint, Nelson; Drameh, Doyle, Wintle, Bagan; Colwill, Harris; Hugill

We say: Sheffield United 2-1 Cardiff City

Both sides will be keen to turn their fortunes around but there is more riding on this fixture for Sheffield United as they bid to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Cardiff have caused problems at Bramall Lane in recent years but we can see the Blades edging out the Bluebirds to secure a slender victory this weekend.

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