Sheffield United vs Luton Town: Match Preview, Prediction, Team News, and Lineups
Mr.Cat > EFL Championship > Sheffield United vs Luton Town: Match Preview, Prediction, Team News, and Lineups
Two teams relegated from the Premier League last season, Sheffield United and Luton Town, face off on Saturday at Bramall Lane. The hosts are enjoying a strong start to their Championship campaign, while the visitors are struggling in the lower half of the table.
Sheffield United return to Bramall Lane on Saturday, aiming to preserve their unbeaten record in the Championship this season. The Blades, under the management of Chris Wilder, have adapted well to life back in the second tier after a difficult Premier League campaign, where they finished 20th, 10 points behind Luton. Despite a two-point deduction, they currently sit third in the table with five wins and three draws from their first eight games.
A key factor in their early success is their remarkable defense, having conceded only three goals so far—the fewest in the division. Sheffield United have also kept five consecutive clean sheets, with recent victories over Watford, Hull City, and Derby County. After a goalless draw at Portsmouth last weekend, they returned to winning ways midweek with a 1-0 victory over Swansea City, courtesy of an own goal from Josh Tymon.
Now just two points behind league leaders Sunderland despite their deduction, the Blades will aim for a second straight win and an extension of their unbeaten run on Saturday.
Luton Town, on the other hand, have found their return to the Championship more challenging. After their relegation, Rob Edwards’ side has only managed eight points from their first eight games. Offensively, they’ve struggled, scoring just eight goals, while defensively they’ve conceded 13—the joint fifth-highest in the league.
After a slow start, Luton secured back-to-back wins against Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday in September but suffered a 3-1 defeat at Plymouth Argyle last Friday. In their most recent outing, they squandered a 2-0 lead against Oxford United in the midweek, settling for a disappointing 2-2 draw.
Luton now sit 20th in the Championship, only one point clear of the relegation zone, and will be eager to secure a win before the international break to kickstart their campaign.
Team News
Sheffield United will remain without midfielder Oliver Arblaster due to injury, while Jack Robinson and Tom Davies are nearing returns but are unlikely to feature this weekend.
Chris Wilder could make changes to the lineup that faced Swansea, with Alfie Gilchrist expected to return to the back four, joining Harry Souttar, Anel Ahmedhodzic, and Harrison Burrows. Kieffer Moore should lead the attack, with Jesurun Rak-Sakyi likely to return in support alongside Callum O’Hare and Gus Hamer.
Luton Town will be without Liam Walsh, who is suspended after a red card against Oxford United. Mads Andersen, Daiki Hashioka, Shandon Baptiste, Tahith Chong, and Carlton Morris are also likely to remain sidelined due to injuries. Rob Edwards may stick with the same starting lineup from Tuesday’s draw, with Reece Burke, Mark McGuinness, and Teden Mengi continuing in defense. Elijah Adebayo, still searching for his first Championship goal of the season, should lead the attack alongside Jordan Clark and Jacob Brown.
While Luton performed better in the Premier League than Sheffield United last season, the Blades have quickly adjusted to life back in the Championship. With momentum on their side and the advantage of playing at home, Sheffield United are expected to maintain their unbeaten record and continue their excellent defensive run with a narrow win.
