On the hunt for a third straight pre-season victory, Sheffield United head to Wetherby Road on Tuesday to face a Harrogate Town side aiming to avoid a third successive friendly loss.
The Blades made light work of Chesterfield in a 3-0 triumph at the weekend, while their League Two hosts coincidentally lost by the same scoreline to Leeds United one day before.
Match preview
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The Bramall Lane faithful could have been forgiven for forgetting what that winning feeling is like after Sheffield United's terrible time in the 2023-24 Premier League, where they went straight back down with a whimper after a seven-game losing run and 14-game winless sequence.
Prior to the start of pre-season, Chris Wilder's side had not come out on the correct end of the scoreline since sinking fellow Championship returnees Luton Town 3-1 in February, but as is the case with London buses, two have come at once for the Blades.
After coming from behind to defeat York City 2-1 in their opening friendly of the summer, Sheffield United hit Chesterfield for three without reply on Saturday, where Will Osula began the rout with his second goal in as many pre-season matches.
The 20-year-old's opener preceded second-half strikes from Andre Dozzell and Owen Hampson in a three-goal trouncing, and Wilder's side now prepare for their third of five away pre-season contests; none of their summer friendlies will be played at their Bramall Lane headquarters.
Following Tuesday's encounter, the Blades square up to Rotherham United (July 27) and Huddersfield Town (August 2) before appropriately beginning their new Championship campaign on rival territory, heading to Preston North End on August 9.
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While Sheffield United proudly boast a pair of victories from their opening pre-season contests, the tale of the tape could not be any more different for Simon Weaver's Harrogate Town, who were no match for Huddersfield or Leeds in their first two games of the summer.
Harrogate put up a good fight against the Terriers only to lose 3-2, and their efforts were even more futile in Friday's exhibition encounter with Leeds, who hit Weaver's side for three without reply through Junior Firpo, Georginio Rutter and Sam Chambers.
There would normally be no shame in being condemned to a multiple-goal defeat to a side ranked two tiers higher, but the 3-0 loss to Leeds continued a worrying defensive trend from the end of the 2023-24 League Two campaign for Tuesday's hosts.
Indeed, Harrogate have now conceded more than one goal in each of their last five competitive and non-competitive matches, although they still finished comfortably in mid-table last season to earn a fifth straight campaign as an EFL team.
As Sheffield United do some summer ground-hopping, Harrogate will play their third of five straight home friendlies on Tuesday; the Sulphurites also welcome Lincoln City and Middlesbrough to Wetherby Road this summer before a trip to Darlington in early August.
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Team News
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A couple of hours after putting Chesterfield to the sword, Sheffield United confirmed that Jayden Bogle had been transferred to Leeds United for a "significant" sum, but the defender was not involved in Saturday's friendly anyway, having informed Wilder that he would not be signing a new deal.
Prior to Bogle's switch to Elland Road, fellow full-back Jamie Shackleton moved in the opposite direction, but he was among several notable players to miss out on selection for the success over Chesterfield.
Anel Ahmedhodzic, Vinicius Souza, Anis Slimane and Gustavo Hamer were all left out too, but none of Wilder's absentees were missing due to severe injuries, and they are all thought to have good chances of being involved in midweek.
However, only a matter of minutes after he opened the scoring, Osula was brought off after taking a ball to the face, and Wilder should not take any unnecessary risks over the youngster's fitness here.
Meanwhile, Harrogate right-back Toby Sims has now made a full recovery from a back concern and was involved in the recent loss to Leeds, as were new signings Zico Asare, Ellis Taylor and Stephen Duke-McKenna.
Asare completed the full game in the Harrogate defence, but there is scope for an alteration up top, with Josh March seeking to oust James Daly in the striker's slot.
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Belshaw; Sims, Asare, O'Connor, Foulds; Gibson; Duke-McKenna, Cornelius, Falkingham, Dooley; March
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Grbic; Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Robinson; Seriki, Arblaster, Brooks, Slimane, McCallum; Moore, Brewster
We say: Harrogate Town 0-3 Sheffield United
After both of their previous fixtures ended with a 3-0 scoreline at the top of the screen, an identical result on Tuesday appears a highly realistic scenario between two sides in contrasting friendly form.
With Wilder also hopeful of having a few more first-team regulars back at his disposal, Sheffield United should get the job done without breaking too much of a sweat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
