Sheffield United v Aston Villa
A hamstring injury has ruled out Villa's Tyrone Mings, who was a Premier League ever-present this season TEAM NEWS
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has a fully-fit squad for the visit of fellow promoted side Aston Villa.
John Lundstram, George Baldock and John Fleck are all one booking from triggering an automatic suspension.
Villa defender Tyrone Mings will miss out because of the hamstring injury he suffered against Leicester last Sunday, but the club are hopeful he will be available before the end of the year.
Matt Targett has overcome a minor injury but Keinan Davis is not yet fit.
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MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
@Guymowbray:After Villa, it's Brighton and then Watford for Chris Wilder's high-flying Blades, who could very well be in the top six halfway through the season.
Bravo. They deserve every plaudit coming their way, and fans the right to say "told you so" to the doubters who didn't see them much last term.
Consistency is the key, with 10 regular starters staying in from the promotion-winning side - and that's despite NINE summer signings.
Villa's TEN squad additions since coming up have had much more playing time, but haven't yet knitted together for that all-important consistent blend.
A home win then? Don't bet on it. In fact, given their last meeting in February, don't bet on anything in a game described by Wilder as "historically mad"!
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: "We're not at 40 points yet, we're a long way off. Remaining consistent is the message to my players.
"We're in a healthy position and we'd like to cement that and move it forward. They need to keep that going, but there are two or three positions where we are a little light and we need to strengthen to make sure performances and results are not affected.
"I have said to the owners that maybe if we were in a different position then maybe keep your hand in your pocket, but now is a time to strengthen, and we are still having conversations over where we can go with that."
Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith: "We've got to be tougher to beat. I've felt that in the last two games we've given Chelsea and Leicester too many big chances.
"A little bit has been through naivety, a little bit through positioning but we've had a good review and reflection on that.
"The players spoke at length about what they feel they need to get better at, and we will certainly take that into the game."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
The Blades fight for everything and never know when they are beaten. I am backing them to win again this weekend too.
Aston Villa have got some very good players so there is no way they are going to sink like a stone, but it seems they are going to be hovering around the relegation places for the foreseeable future.
Prediction: 2-1
Lawro's full predictions v comedian and author David Baddiel
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
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Sheffield United's only victory in the past 11 league meetings was by 4-1 in the corresponding fixture last season.
Aston Villa have won five of their six Premier League games against Sheffield United, drawing the other. They haven't met in the top flight since the 2006-07 season.
Sheffield United
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The Blades are vying to earn consecutive Premier League wins for the first time in 13 years.
Sheffield United's only defeat in nine Premier League matches came in their most recent home fixture, against Newcastle (W3, D5).
They have lost four home league games this season, as many as in the entirety of 2018-19.
If Sheffield United win or draw this fixture, they will be the first promoted team to lose fewer than five of their opening 17 matches of a Premier League campaign since Hull City 11 years ago.
Chris Wilder's side have conceded eight goals in five games but still boast the division's third best defensive record overall, behind Leicester City and league leaders Liverpool.
Wilder played in the Sheffield United team that won 2-1 at home to Villa in the top flight in March 1991.
Lys Mousset has scored with all five of his shots on target in the Premier League this season. Fellow forward David McGoldrick, who has failed to score with any of his 28 attempts, should have four goals based on the expected goals metric which measures the quality of chances.
Aston Villa
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It's one win in seven league games for Villa, who have played every current top-six side during that period (D1, L5).
Their only Premier League away victory in the past 26 attempts came against fellow newly-promoted side Norwich in October (D4, L21).
Aston Villa have earned a solitary point from their nine matches this season against sides currently in the top half of the table. Sheffield United are in eighth place.
The eight headed goals they have conceded this season are more than any other side in the division. Villa are yet to score from a header.
Dean Smith's side have dropped an unrivalled 13 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season.
The 20 goals they have conceded in the second half is also the most by any side in the division so far.
Jack Grealish has scored six goals in all competitions in 2019-20, equalling last season's career-best tally.
Source: bbc.com
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