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The Bottom Line
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Town's problems are there for all to see. One goal in the last eight games tells its own story, but the truth is that in defence Town have done well, conceding just seven goals in the last eight games. This statistic speaks volumes - Town simply cannot score. The introduction of Robert Taylor was thought to end the scoring jinx, but after just two full games and being struck by injury and a case of bad refereeing his spell has ended miserably. The last time a Town forward scored was back in December when Phil Jevons netted against Portsmouth, but in truth it is not just the defence where Town's problems lie. The supply of opportunities has been woeful as has support from the middfield players. Therefore, a win against a team who are comfortably in mid table may seem attainable, but in truth will be hard to get. Sheffield United are a strong team made up of big players who thought they'd challenge for the play offs, but have failed to do so, in what has been a very inconsistent season for the Blades. Last week saw them beat Portsmouth 4-3 when debutant Paul Furlong grabbed two. Neil Warnock's team will be hoping for this form to continue when they meet Town for the third time this season.
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Recent Form
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| Town | Sheff Utd |
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| W | Portsmouth | (h) | 4-3 |
| L | Norwich | (a) | 1-2 |
| D | Sheff Wed | (h) | 0-0 |
| L | Preston (Cup) | (a) | 1-2 |
| D | Forest | (h) | 0-0 |
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Overall League Record
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Dangerman
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| Town | Sheff Utd |
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John McDermott
In reality, Town don't have many dangermen in their team! Taylor has gone, Pouton is suspended and no one else really does look like scoring a goal. In fact, if we go by the game against Watford on Sunday, Towns main threat will come from John McDermott- our rightback!!! Maccas guile, guts and determination down the wing was the only thing that was decent from Towns game. Maccas return has been a welcome boost for Town, but really, Town need every other player to play like Macca, then perhaps we have a chance of avoiding relegation.
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Paul Furlong
An experienced forward who has had spells at Watford, Coventry, Chelsea, Birmingham and QPR. Furlong has been out of favour at St Andrews for some time now and after a brief loan spell at QPR last season, has now joined Sheffield United on loan. A proven goalscorer at this level, Furlong continued this trend in his debut last week when he grabbed a brace against Portsmouth at Bramall Lane. Town will be hoping that he doesn't do the same on Saturday.
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Town Team News
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Player boss Paul Groves is rated as 50:50 for the game, but the fit again Simon Ford and Paul Raven will probably start. Groves could make the bench.
Alan Pouton is suspended after receiving five booking this season, while Robert Taylor has gone back to Wolves.
Forgotten man Steve Livingstone could be back before the end of the season, but will not train for another week or two.
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Sheff Utd Team News
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Full back Rob Kosluk is out for the season, which means that Ben Doane and Gus Uhlenbeek will battle it out for the right back spot. Doane is the most likely to snatch it after playing well last week.
Elsewhere, Paul Furlong and Carl Asaba will continue up front which means no place for D'Jaffo, Peschislido Or Suffo.
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Expected Line Ups
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| Town | Sheff Utd |
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Danny Coyne
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| Excellent shot stopper who continued his great form for Town with a superb performance in front of the TV cameras last weekend. Welsh international.
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| John McDermott
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| Town's longest serving player and league appearance holder. Returned to the side last week after being injured since September. |
Paul Raven
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| Traditional English centre half who is in the last year of his contract. Made his first start of the year last week when Paul Groves was suspended.
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| Simon Ford |
| Another player with his contract expiring this summer, and one who Town will want to keep hold of. Young defender who made is debut in December 2001. |
Tony Gallimore (c)
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| Accomplished left back who has had another fairly consistent season, but was sent off on Sunday. This means that he will now face a three match ban. |
| Stuart Campbell |
| Versatile midfielder who signed for the Mariners permanently this summer after a loan spell last season. |
Stacy Coldicott
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| Aggressive midfield player who is in his fourth season with the club after joining Town in 1998 for £160,000 |
Wayne Burnett
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| Skilful midfielder who has been in and out the side all season. Expected to be Burnetts last season for Town with a summer move imminent. | Menno Willems
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| Dutch midfielder who played in a reasonably unfamiliar left midfield position last week, after playing in the middle for much of the season.
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| Phil Jevons
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| Town's top scorer with eight goals, but really Jevons has not yet fully convinced the Mariners fans that he is worth his £250,000 price tag. |
Michael Boulding
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| Quick player who stands a chance of nicking a goal or two through the sheer amounts of pace he possesses. Former professional tennis player. |
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Simon Tracey
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| Experienced goalkeeper who cost the club just £7,500 in 1988. Since then he has made over 300 appearances for the Blades. |
| Ben Doane |
| Burst onto the scene last season when he made his debut here at Blundell Park. Since then he has been a regular member of the first team squad.
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Keith Curle
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| Veteran centre back who signed for the club last season from Wolves in a player/coach role. |
| Robert Page |
| Welsh international defender who signed for the club from Watford after being told he was no part of Gianluca Viallis plans. |
Robert Ullathorne
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| Experienced full back who made his name with Norwich City in the early 90s. Since then he has also had a spell at Leicester, and is now a regular for the Blades. |
| Michael Brown |
| Defensive midfield player who also likes to join in with the attack. He was Neil Warnock's first signing when he joined United for £400,000 after a loan spell. |
Bobby Ford
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| Former Oxford United midfielder who has formed an excellent partnership in the centre of the park with Michael Brown. Now one of the clubs longest serving players. |
Nick Montgomery
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| Enthusiastic midfield player who plays with an eagerness and desire to win. Was the clubs "young player of the year" last season. |
| Peter Ndlovu |
| Exciting player who can play in midfield or as an out and out centre forward. Started his career in England for Coventry and has also played for Birmingham. |
Paul Furlong
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| Clever and strong forward who is on loan for United until the end of the season after finding himself out of favour under Steve Bruce at Birmingham. |
Carl Asaba
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| Quick forward who is a proven goalscorer at this level. Was perhaps Neil Warnock's best buy for United, costing just £92,000 from Gillingham last season. |
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| Subs | Subs |
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| Ben Chapman |
| Bradley Allen |
| Danny Butterfield |
| Michael Jeffrey |
| Steve Croudson (GK) |
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| Paul Peschisolido |
| Lee Sandford |
| Laurent D'Jaffo |
| Phil Jagielka |
| Wilko De Vogt (GK) |
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Last Time Out
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Towns last game against the Blades was the game after Towns fantastic 2-1 win at Liverpool - how long ago that seems! On that occasion Town lost 3-1 when Patrick Suffo bagged two goals in front of a 15, 442 crowd. Towns goal came direct from a corner when Menno Willems scored only his second Town goal. The two sides also met in the Worthington Cup second round on September 11th 2001 - a day remembered for all the wrong reasons- when Town won on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Grimsby: Coyne, Beharall, Groves, Broomes, Gallimore, Campbell, Pouton, Butterfield, Chapman, Jevons, Rowan.
Subs: Allen, Willems, Coldicott, Boulding, Crousdon.
Report
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Sheff Utd Head-to-Head
(95th on The Opposition Ladder).
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Fishy Prediction
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Quite frankly, if Town lose, we go down, it doesn't matter what we predict, it's up to the fans and the players to decide the Mariners fate.
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