This weeks fixtures promised to be one of the hardest in the season for City, and the Bluebirds will have to put in an excellent performance to avoid a similar result to Tuesday's defeat at Reading. Still, these are the sort of fixtures City fans have been dieing for since our 18 year absence from England's second-flight, and another large following of almost 2,000 will be making one of City's longest trips this season.

The last time City visited Brammal Lane was back in 1999  in a Third Round F.A Cup tie. Super Kevin Nugent scored from the penalty spot for the visitors, but City were outclassed by the Yorkshire outfit, who were two division higher than the Bluebirds then.

United have been made firm favourites for the game, with odds of 8/11 for victory, but Neil Warnock is facing several injury worries for the game. Michael Brown will miss the game through suspension, and Chris Morgan is certain to miss the game with a broken wrist, with Paddy Kenny & Steve Kabba both long-tern absentees.

Jack Lester and Robert Page are both major doubts for the Blades. Lester is suffering an ankle injury, whilst Welsh international page is unlikely to be named amongst the starting line-up after picking up a knock in United's 3-1 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest.

The Bluebirds have less worries, with John Robinson the only new doubt since the Reading loss. Robinson limped off with seven minutes to go at the Madjeski Stadium, and Lennie Lawrence is yet to make a decision on whether the former-Charlton Athletic midfielder will start the game. Should he miss out, Jason Bowen or Mark Bonner are likely to step into the role, depending on whether or not Lawrence is playing an attacking or defensive game.

Daniel Gabbidon is a major doubt, and can hope for a place amongst the substitutes at best. Gabbidon's is not likely to waltz back into the side, with Tony Vidmar and James Collins forming a very sold defensive partnership. Scott Young returned to light training earlier in the week, but is still weeks away from returning to first-team action.

Andy Campbell also returned to training in the week, but is unlikely to be included in the travelling squad, giving Gavin Gordon a place on the bench for the third successive match. Gordon will have been frustrated at the amount of match action he has got in the past two games, playing only a few minutes against Gillingham, and being an unused substitute at Reading, and is still desperate to prove a point to boss Lennie Lawrence.

Alan Lee completes his suspension tomorrow, but is still facing up to a month out with a cartilage injury, with the rest of the squad fit and ready for selection.

United enter the game in good-form, after hammering Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United 5-0 on Wednesday, and will be looking to go one better than last season, that saw them lose the Playoff Final 3-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers, the day after City's memorable 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers at the Millennium Stadium. United are unbeaten at home, taking 10 points from their opening 4 home games, with 4 points from 3 away games.

The referee for tomorrow's game is Yorkshire-born Mike Riley. His linesman will be Paul Barnes of Cambridgeshire and Russel Booth of Nottinghamshire.

Sheffield United are averaging crowds of well over 20,000, and their fans are hailed as one of the best in the league, so expect another electric atmosphere at the Lane for tomorrow's cash. As I mentioned, the home side have been made firm favourites at 8/11, with an away win priced at a big 100/30. The draw is priced at 9/4.

Bluebird to the Bone Prediction - Sheffield United 0-1 Cardiff City
Normally, I'd expect City to come away with nothing, but United have mass injury problems, and I can see City coming away with something, and perhaps nicking it by the odd goal. Rob Earnshaw to score.

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