Stat Attack: Sheffield United vs. Notts County

Sheffield United’s first match against our beloved Notts took place on the 17th Jan 1891 in the FA Cup.

Just to give you an idea how long ago this was… Sir Winston Churchill was a mere 16 years old when the game was played!

The scoreline is also of note: Notts won 9-1! Since then, however, the Blades have undisputedly held the upper hand in head-to-head statistics: they have won 48 games against the Magpies. We’ve beaten then just 26 times, and there have been 13 draws.

Their ground, Bramall Lane, is the oldest major stadium in the world still to be hosting professional football matches.

Bramall Lane opened in April 1855 – Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin were still alive back then!

Jessica Ennis-Hill, the darling of the 2012 London Olympics, has a stand named after her at United’s ground, following her gold medal in heptathlon two years ago.

A game between Sheffield United and Oldham in February 1984 had to be postponed when a wartime bomb was found near Bramall Lane!

A number of films and television programmes have included references to Sheffield United over the past few decades:

-The 1996 film When Saturday Comes stars Sean Bean as a part-time Hallam FC player who is scouted by Sheffield United, who then goes on to play in a FA Cup semi-final.

-The character 'Gaz' in British comedy The Full Monty is seen wearing a replica United shirt at one part of the film, and promises his son a ticket for a game at Bramall Lane between Sheffield United & Manchester United.

-Even Hollywood has got in on the act: a scene in Batman Begins features a child wearing a 1990s Blades shirt.

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Sheffield United strikers Michael Higdon and Marc McNulty will both return to contention for Friday night's home game against Notts County.

Higdon has been sidelined for six games and McNulty has been been out for a similar period due to a facial injury.

Clough has no new injury or suspension problems but midfielder James Wallace and defender Ben Davies remain sidelined.

Diego De Girolamo has returned to York City on loan and fellow forward Che Adams is hoping to make his first appearance after twice being an unused substitute.

Gary Jones will be available for Notts after his red card against Yeovil Town last weekend was overturned on appeal.

Blair Adams was forced off with an injury against the Glovers towards the end of the first half and the defender is a doubt ahead of the trip to Bramall Lane.

A further injury blow for the Magpies has seen Zeli Ismail ruled out for around four months. The on-loan Wolves winger suffered a knee injury during the goalless draw with Accrington in the FA Cup first round.

Ryan Hall has been brought in as a replacement for Ismail and the Rotherham United loanee is expected to go straight into the squad against the Blades.