Boro are looking for their fourth win on the bounce, while the Blades are desperate for their first points of the season.<\/p>\n
Match preview<\/p>\n
Middlesbrough parted ways with Michael Carrick<\/strong><\/a> back in June after two-and-a-half years in charge, but new boss Rob Edwards<\/strong><\/a> has made a strong start to life at the Riverside.<\/p>\n Last Saturday, Boro took all three points in a 2-1 victory against Norwich City at Carrow Road, courtesy of two goals in two minutes from Finn Azaz<\/strong><\/a> and Tommy Conway<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n That triumph maintained Edwards’s 100% record in the Championship this season, and his side now sit second in the table with nine points, level with first-placed Stoke City.<\/p>\n However, the only semblance of weakness to be found in Middlesbrough’s first month of the campaign comes from their home record, given that the hosts only won 1-0 against Swansea City on August 9 before being thrashed 4-0 on their own turf by Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup three days later.<\/p>\n That being said, Boro fans would point out that their club’s priority is the fight for promotion, and with two clean sheets from their three second-tier games, their defensive resilience is difficult to question.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Sheffield United garnered 90 points and were agonisingly beaten in the Championship playoff final in 2024-25, but they have made a disastrous start to this season’s promotion push under new manager Ruben Selles<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The Blades have lost all four of their matches so far this term, including three defeats in the second tier and an elimination from the EFL Cup at the hands of Birmingham City on August 13.<\/p>\n Most recently, Selles’s men were beaten 1-0 at Bramall Lane by Millwall, and the boss will be frustrated that his players were unable to find a response to Luke Cundle’s first-half volley despite enjoying the majority of possession.<\/p>\n Blanking last Saturday has left United stuck to the foot of the table, where they remain pointless and already seven points short of the top six.<\/p>\n The Blades may be yet to avoid defeat this term, but fans could choose to take heart from the fact that the visitors won all six of their away matches between April 25 and the end of July.<\/p>\n Middlesbrough Championship form:<\/p>\n Middlesbrough form (all competitions):<\/p>\n Sheffield United Championship form:<\/p>\n Sheffield United form (all competitions):<\/p>\n Team News<\/p>\n Middlesbrough will be without attacking midfielder Finn Azaz after the club agreed a \u00a312m fee for his transfer to Southampton, and Sontje Hansen<\/strong><\/a> could start in his place on Saturday.<\/p>\n Boro are also missing a number of players through injury in their backline, including Alex Bangura<\/strong><\/a>, Darragh Lenihan<\/strong><\/a> and goalkeeper Seny Dieng<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n In their absence, Luke Ayling<\/strong><\/a>, Dael Fry<\/strong><\/a> and Alfie Jones<\/strong><\/a> should start in a back three in front of shot-stopper Sol Brynn<\/strong><\/a>, flanked by Callum Brittain<\/strong><\/a> and Sammy Silvera<\/strong><\/a> at wing-back.<\/p>\n As for Sheffield United, they are without midfielders Tom Davies<\/strong><\/a> and Oliver Arblaster<\/strong><\/a>, as well as the versatile Jamie Shackleton<\/strong><\/a>, so expect to see a trio of Callum O’Hare, Sydie Peck<\/strong><\/a> and Gustavo Hamer<\/strong><\/a> line up in the centre of the park.<\/p>\n Up top, striker Tyrese Campbell<\/strong><\/a> should be supported from out wide by Tom Cannon<\/strong><\/a> and Louie Barry<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:<\/strong><\/p>\n Brynn; Ayling; Fry, Jones; Brittain, Morris, Hackney, Silvera; Whittaker, Hansen; Conway<\/p>\n Sheffield United possible starting lineup:<\/strong><\/p>\n Cooper; Godfrey, Bindon, Robinson, Burrows; O’Hare, Peck, Hamer; Cannon, Campbell, Barry<\/p>\n We say: Middlesbrough 2-0 Sheffield United Middlesbrough have won all three of their Championship games so far, and their fans may even be expecting another victory this weekend.<\/p>\n On the other hand, Sheffield United have struggled throughout August, and having failed to score in their last two matches, they could blank once again on Saturday.<\/p>\n For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Ruben](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/https3A2F2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra_.io_.cloud_.ovh_.net2Fuploads2F20252F082Fruben-selles-man.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Louie](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/https:\/\/sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net\/uploads\/2025\/08\/louie-barry-of-sheffield-unite.webp\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"SM](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/https:\/\/sportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net\/20\/33\/sm-words-green-background.png\" "\\"SM")
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