Adver Sport have a look at Swindon Town's latest visitors, Sheffield United. 

The Chalkboard:

Sheffield United actually lost three of their first four games under Chris Wilder earlier this season but since then, the Blades have marched on irrepressibly.

Now eight points clear at the top of the table, United are unbeaten since January and are firmly in the driving seat, dominating proceedings much in the same way as the Wilder-led Northampton Town that won League Two last term.

Since August, the Blades have been beaten just three times in league and no side has a better home or away record.

United’s marauding wing-backs offer a sizeable threat from either flanks while their exceptional midfield unit are capable of dominating matches like no-one else in the division.

And of course, that all culminates in supplying the prolific Billy Sharp.

Swindon Advertiser:

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder

Likely line-up:

Swindon Advertiser:

A man in form: Billy Sharp

Last Friday, Billy Sharp was named League One’s player of the month for February.

However, if the Sheffield United captain continues his fearsome form in front of goal and fires the Blades back up to the second tier of English football between now and April 30, then he’s surely the favourite to add the division’s player-of-the-season award to his mantelpiece.

The 31-year-old, who is flourishing in his third spell with his boyhood club, hit five goals in as many games to become the toast of League One last month and with a brace in his side’s 3-2 win over Oxford United last time out, Sharp has now notched 26 times in 39 appearances. 

The division’s top-scorer is now also just a brace away from reaching 200 career goals – Sharp will no doubt smell blood when he arrives at the County Ground.

Swindon Advertiser:

Sheffield United's Billy Sharp

Treatment room:

The Blades are expected to include two players in their travelling party that will be assessed to see if they are fit enough to feature against Town.

Creative midfielder Mark Duffy wanted to play in Sheffield United’s game at Oxford United seven days ago but had to be convinced to sit the match out, the 31-year-old having picked up a knee injury against Rochdale on March 4.

Duffy, who scored twice in the Blades’ 4-0 win over Swindon at Bramall Lane in December, has more of a chance of making Chris Wilder’s squad this time around.

United will also make a late call on defender Jake Wright, who suffered a broken nose against his former side Oxford.

Harry Chapman is in line for his first involvement for the Blades since he ruptured an ankle ligament in training in late last year and subsequently returned to parent club Middlesbrough.

However, injured ex-Town striker Leon Clarke misses out on a reunion with his former club.

Swindon Advertiser:

Mark Duffy in action against Swindon Town earlier this season

Oppo form guide:

TUE, Mar 7

Skybet League One

3-2 Win v Oxford Utd (A)

SAT, Mar 4

Skybet League One

3-3 Draw v Rochdale (A)

SAT, Feb 25

Skybet League One

2-0 Win v Bolton (H)

SAT, Feb 18

Skybet League One

1-1 Draw v Scunthorpe (H)

TUE, Feb 14

Skybet League One

0-0 Draw v Bristol Rovers (A)

Goalscorers:

Billy Sharp: 26

Kieron Freeman: 8

Mark Duffy: 6

Discipline:

Chris Basham: 5Y, 1R

Paul Coutts: 8Y

Billy Sharp: 6Y

The stat:

Despite Town and Sheffield United sharing 116 goals in 38 matches, the first competitive meeting between the two finished 0-0 in 1908.