This is a dead rubber for the Tractor Boys but not for the Blades, who are expected to be victorious. Manager Paul Lambert has other ideas. He has decided to put two strikers up front in Kayden Jackson and Will Keane and it is something supporters have been long urging for.
Sheffield United will go into this match as very hot favourites but of course, Town have nothing to lose, and the only real disappointment in the team selection from Lambert is a lack of youth. Back into the side comes wing back Myles Kenlock and Cole Skuse in midfield and quite predictably, Trevoh Chalobah and Callum Elder drop to the bench; along with Andre Dozzell.
Josh Emmanual is back on bench warming duties too, having been taken out of the squad altogether, and once again central defender James Collins is noticeable by his absence. Manager Paul Lambert made seven changes for the home defeat by Swansea City and once again he has decided to shuffle the pack; making four changes on this occasion. He really is struggling to find the right team mix and this was a problem incurred by both Hurst and McCarthy before him.
Sheffield United have won four of their last six home league matches against Ipswich, and they are currently in second place behind arch-rivals Norwich in the Championship. If they win today an automatic place in the Premier League is all but assured. Leeds United will have other ideas but they would be six points adrift going into their last two games if this occurred.
Former Blue David McGoldrick is in the Blades starting line-up and I would be absolutely amazed if he does not score! And on the bench, they have a player that Town wanted badly a few years back and he has not featured for Sheffield United since the 1-1 draw with Millwall on 13th of April. Billy Sharp is bound to be involved at some stage and he is another player that will seriously worry the Town rearguard.
If we are looking for some healthy stats then Paul Lambert’s only previous league visit to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United came in January 2011, as the then Norwich manager and he won 2-1!
In truth though, there is very little to get excited about here, which is featured live on Sky, but with twin strikers and Alan Judge pulling the strings in midfield you just never know? Town are quoted at 16/1 if you fancy a wager on a very rare away victory!
Sheffield United: Henderson, Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Baldock, Norwood (captain), Fleck, Stevens, Duffy, McGoldrick, Hogan.
Substitutes: Lundstram, Dowell, Sharp, Madine, Stearman, Moore, Cranie.
Ipswich Town: Gerken, Bree, Chambers (captain), Nsiala, Kenlock, Skuse, Bishop, Downes, Judge, Keane, Jackson.
Substitutes: Chalobah, Dozzell, Elder, Emmanuel, Bialkowski, El Mizouni, Ndaba.
The Referee is Tim Robinson from West Sussex.
F.W. editor of Vital Ipswich
