The latest Championship test in front of Norwich City is a tough looking trip to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United.
The Blades have won their last four games, having won 5 and lost just 2 of their opening 7 games in total, which sees them sitting comfortably in third place in the table.
As you would imagine, being at home and up against an inconsistent team, I think it’s fair to say, they will no doubt be pretty buoyant in the run up.
However, having managed two clean sheets in their last two games, there is a new steeliness about the Canaries and one that should stand them in good stead this afternoon.
The return of Alex Tettey and Timm Klose to the starting XI have been key to this but the appointment of Marco Stiepermann at left back has also been important. The current back four have looked solid and self assured in those last two matches and Christoph Zimmermann has looked much better alongside big Timm.
With Grant Hanley waiting in the wings, City finally look to have a reasonable defensive unit and I imagine that knowing Hanley is there will only make Zimmermann strive to keep his performances at the highest level. Marcel Franke will also want to get back into the squad and what this proves is that competition is key, something the defence has lacked in the last four or five years.
City will of course miss Nelson Oliveira today but an injury always means an opportunity for another player and Cameron Jerome will look forward to getting back into the side and proving his worth.
We’d all rather that Nelson was playing but hopefully Cam can do more than just show that infamous workrate and actually get a goal or two.
The Blades will fancy this in front of their own crowd and will prove a stern test so City will need to be at it from the first whistle. Sheffield United will be aggressive and I get the feeling that Norwich will need to win their personal battles more than ever at Bramall Lane to get something out of the game.
After two clean sheets, I would love another one here and I’d definitely take a point. As we all know though, there are players in our side that can hurt the opposition on any given day, let’s hope they can do that today.
OTBC
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