This Week's Opposition: Sheffield United

In-depth analysis on the Blues' next Championship opponent.

Following successive home fixtures for Portsmouth, we’re back on the road again this weekend - Sheffield United the hosts of this Championship battle at Bramall Lane.

MANAGER

Former Oxford United and Northampton Town boss Chris Wilder is in charge for his second spell with The Blades.

Wilder first joined his boyhood club in 2016 and spent 5 years at Bramall Lane, taking them from League One to the Premier League.

He returned in December 2023 following the dismissal of Paul Heckingbottom.

ONE TO WATCH

Right winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi could pose a threat to Pompey this weekend.

The 22-year-old has featured in 23 Championship fixtures this season and has scored 4 times, however has recently come back from injury.

Rak-Sakyi is on loan from Premier League outfit Crystal Palace and was on the scoresheet for Charlton Athletic in a 3-1 defeat for the Blues at Fratton Park on New Year’s Day 2023 - That proved to be Danny Cowley’s final game in charge of the club.

TOP SCORER

Both Gus Hamer and Tyrese Campbell share the title of top scorer for The Blades at this point of the season with 6 goals each.

Hamer is a 27-year-old versatile midfielder who can operate in any position behind the striker while Campbell is a centre-forward without a goal since the 8th of December.

New striker Tom Cannon has scored more goals in the Championship with 9, however all of those were scored during his time with Stoke City in the first half of the campaign prior to the January move to Bramall Lane.

CURRENT FORM

Despite being hit with a 2 point deduction at the start of the campaign, Sheffield United are competing for the automatic promotion spots.

As a result of Burnley’s 1-0 win over Oxford United on Tuesday night, Chris Wilder’s side head into the weekend round of fixtures in 3rd place with 61 points next to their name after 30 games.

They’ve won 4 of their last 5 Championship matches and were defeated 3-0 by Hull City at Bramall Lane, their last home fixture, in the other.

Can the Blues blunt The Blades and add some more points on the board?

Pompey Live returns with all of the unmissable action as Portsmouth take on Sheffield United away from home this Saturday (February 8th) from 2pm with Jake Smith and Pepe Lacey reporting from the Bramall Lane press box.

Kick-off: 3pm!