Stat Attack: Sheffield United vs Notts County

Sheffield United’s first match against Notts took place on the 17th January 1891 in the FA Cup - and we won 9-1!

Since then, however, the Blades have undisputedly held the upper hand in head-to-head statistics.

They have won 49 games against the Magpies. We’ve beaten then just 26 times, and there have been 14 draws.

Our last game was back in February, which ended in a 2-1 defeat at Meadow Lane in League One.

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 and a half 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.

United have a decent cup pedigree - they won the FA Cup in 1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925.

They were also beaten finalists in the FA Cup in 1901 and 1936, and reached the semi-finals in 1961, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2014 - and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup in 2003 and 2015.

Notable Blades fans include Game of Thrones actor Sean Bean, former Sports Minister Richard Caborn MP, singer Paul Heaton, musicians Joe Elliott, Antony Genn and Toddla T, athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, boxer Kell Brook, cricketer Joe Root and Monty Python member and presenter Michael Palin.

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Sheffield United will be without injured pair Ryan Flynn and David Edgar for their Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Notts at Bramall Lane.

Both players were withdrawn at half-time in Saturday's defeat at Port Vale, midfielder Flynn struggling with a groin injury and defender David Edgar sustaining a hamstring problem.

Boss Nigel Adkins will also be without defender Chris Basham, who sits out a one-game ban after reaching five yellow cards.

George Long is expected to be handed a start in goal in place of Mark Howard, with Adkins likely to make several other changes.

Alan Sheehan is an injury doubt for Notts County after coming off shortly before half-time against Leyton Orient on Saturday.

Stanley Aborah missed that 3-1 league loss at Brisbane Road and Magpies manager Ricardo Moniz is preparing to be without the midfielder for some time.

Moniz surprised everyone at the weekend by making nine changes, with only full-back Sheehan and central midfielder Alan Smith retaining their places in the starting line-up following the 1-1 draw at Dagenham.

Roy Carroll, one of the big names dropped against the O's, is unavailable as he is away on international duty with Northern Ireland.