West Bromwich Albion vs Sheffield United

26th November

Slaven Bilić’s Baggies return to The Hawthorns on Saturday night (ko 8pm) as they look to record their first Premier League victory of the season against Sheffield United.

Sheffield United

Their last time out

Similarly to Albion, the Blades were edged out in their last outing by a resurgent West Ham side who condemned them to a 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane.

Sebastien Haller’s strike extended United’s losing run to four matches after previous defeats against Chelsea, Manchester City and reigning champions Liverpool.

In the dugout

Chris Wilder has been a pivotal figure in Sheffield United’s progression up the Football League pyramid and the one who guided them back to England’s top flight after 12 years away.

A former full-back in his playing days, Wilder made more than 400 career appearances before starting out in management. He began coaching in non-league with Alfreton and Halifax Town.

Following a short stint as assistant at Bury, Wilder went onto have success managing Oxford and Northampton before leading his boyhood Blades from League One back to the Premier League in the space of three years.

One to watch

David McGoldrick has already equalled his goals tally from last term in the opening stages of the 2020/21 season.

The 32-year-old netted just twice for the Blades during the last campaign. However, this term the striker has tallied three in all competitions, including a stunning effort against Arsenal.

Having recently retired from his duties for the Republic of Ireland, the forward will be fully focused on getting the goals that will help United achieve their targets this year.

Our last meeting

The last time the Baggies ran out victorious against the south Yorkshire outfit was in December, 2018 when goals from Gareth Barry and Kieran Gibbs wrapped up the points at Bramall Lane.

United won the reverse fixture back at The Hawthorns in February 2019 thanks to a solitary Kieran Dowell header.

Stats

Albion

Albion’s last five against Sheffield United has seen them earn eight points (W2, D2, L1).
Saturday will be the first time Slaven Bilić has managed a game against the Blades.
Former Blade Callum Robinson is level for most goals on home soil in all competitions so far with Hal Robson-Kanu, with both strikers on three goals.

Sheffield United

United go into Saturday’s game off the back of four straight defeats.
But the Blades tend to find the back of the net on their travels, failing to score in just one of their four Premier League away games this season.
Current top-scorer McGoldrick was the last member of the current side to score past the Baggies during December, 2018’s 2-1 defeat.

Head to head

	Albion wins	Draw	Sheff Utd wins
League	40	25	41
FA Cup	3	2	1
League Cup	1	0	0
Total	44	27	42

Our one to watch

Callum Robinson will be keen to get back among the attacking action against his former side.

All three of the lively forward’s goals this season have come at The Hawthorns. Following his near-sensational strike which cannoned back off the crossbar in our last game against Manchester United, Robinson will want to make amends by finding the net this weekend.

Read all about it

Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher features exclusively as the star interview in Saturday’s programme - with his focus fixed on cementing Albion’s progression.

Get yours here.

Follow the game

Gez Mulholland will be joined by once midfield-now-microphone maestro Andy Johnson to provide proudly partisan commentary and an expert insight for WBA Radio.

To listen live to Baggies-biased commentary on WBA Radio for free for every home and away match during the 2020/21 season all you have to do is sign up for a free My Albion account.

If you haven't already you can create your My Albion account here. Click Create Account or register quickly with your Facebook or Google account.

Live commentary starts from 15 minutes before kick-off and will be accessible through the live match centre or WBA TV.

If you have any issues registering or accessing your My Albion account please contact myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.

The game is also available to watch on Sky Sports.

28th November

Albion picked up a crucial first three points of the Premier League season by beating Sheffield United 1-0 at The Hawthorns on Saturday night.

It was a deserved victory for the Baggies, who won the game thanks to Conor Gallagher’s maiden Baggies goal 13 minutes into the clash.

The result could have been more comfortable had Slaven Bilić’s side converted another one of their near-20 shots at goal, but in the end Albion will take a victory that lifts them out of the top flight’s bottom three and into 17th.

Albion made just one change to the team that were cruelly defeated at Old Trafford exactly one week earlier, with former Blade Callum Robinson coming in for Grady Diangana

Yet it was the visitors who made the stronger start - John Fleck drilling an early half-volley wide before, moments later, Conor Townsend had to brilliantly block a George Baldock shot that looked destined to open the scoring.

Albion’s first opportunity arrived on the 12 minute mark when Matheus Pereira played a superb ball over the top to Karlan Grant, but United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale did well to close the striker down and push his effort behind.

And it was from that corner that the Baggies took the lead - Gallagher latching onto Pereira’s cleared set-piece and striking a low shot home to net for the first time since joining on loan from Chelsea.

Sam Johnstone was forced into making a fantastic stop from Oliver Burke’s goal-bound header soon after Albion went in front, though other than that is was mainly the hosts who were pushing for another ahead of half time.

Pereira hit a couple of efforts wide from range, Robinson had one deflected over and Grant was saved at point-blank range as a second seemed to elude them.

They continued to push following the interval - Pereira’s chipped free-kick had to be guided narrowly off-target by the wall and Bartley saw a powerful header well parried by Ramsdale.

Baldock and Oliver McBurnie might have done better with their chances as the Blades searched for a leveller with time running out, but even then Albion were creating their own opportunities as substitute Hal Robson-Kanu curled into Ramsdale’s arms and Furlong headed agonisingly over.

Seven minutes of stoppage time provided one final bit of drama when United’s Lys Mousset nearly found an equaliser from close-range, but eventually Mike Dean blew for full-time and handed the Baggies an important triumph.

Albion: Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Ivanović, Bartley, Townsend (Phillips 75); Pereira, Sawyers, Gallagher; Grant (Krovinović 75), Robinson (Robson-Kanu 65).

Substitutes: Button, O’Shea, Harper, Diangana.

Saturday 28th November 2020 - 20:00