Sheffield United FC
Burnley FC
Burnley FC
Relegated Sheffield United aim to end season on a high note against Burnley
Sheffield United 1-1 Burnley
What has been a thoroughly miserable season for Sheffield United and their supporters finally comes to an end this weekend, when they face a club in Burnley who occupy the last safe position in the league table.
It took the Blades five games to register their first point, and a mammoth 18 games before their first victory came at the hands of Newcastle.
Relegation was always on the cards after that terrible opening period, and it has cost long-term manager Chris Wilder his job, with Paul Heckingbottom taking over on a temporary basis for the final couple of months of the season.
Burnley have yet again earned Premier League survival, although were struggling at one point also.
The Clarets spent the first seven games inside the bottom three and have flirted with danger throughout the campaign. They reached a high of 14th back in April, before three defeats from the last four have brought them back down again.
Form Guide (all comps): WLLWL
Original predicted finish: 18th
Likely finish: 20th
Reasons to be cheerful:
Return of fans could help finish on a high
Similar form to Burnley over past month
Reasons to be fearful:
Players could already have one eye on the summer
Burnley are always difficult to play against
Unfortunately, Sheffield United have found themselves the laughing stock of many up and down the country at how poor they have been this season.
At one point, it appeared likely that they would fall short of the all-time record for the fewest points recorded across a 38-game season, which was Derby County’s 11.
While they have achieved almost double that figure, they’ll be deeply disappointed in how they failed to recapture some of the form which led them to a 9th place finish last season.
They have two wins from their previous five games, both 1-0 against Brighton and Everton. Can they treat their fans to a strong perform here in their final game?
Star Man – David McGoldrick
Their only striker who looks good enough to thrive in the Premier League, McGoldrick has eight goals this season.
Form Guide (all comps): WLWLL
Original predicted finish: 12th
Likely finish: 17th
Reasons to be cheerful:
Have managed to achieve safety whereas opponents have not
Won their last two away fixtures
Reasons to be fearful:
Away from home here, although gone 10 without a win at home
Conceded seven goals in last two games
Burnley have succeeded where Sheffield United have not this season, securing survival in the Premier League for another season off the back of some gritty displays over the campaign.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for sure. The Clarets were sat in the bottom three for the first month or so having lost five games out of their opening six, but battled back in the way they know best and have shown over the past few seasons.
Only two clubs have scored fewer goals, and only four have earned fewer wins, but they know how to get results when they most matter, and have popped up with important wins throughout the campaign.
Can they end on a high here?
Star Man – Chris Wood
Has had to shoulder the goalscoring responsibility largely by himself this season. His 12 goals is at least double anyone else in the squad.
How much will either side want to win here?
Both will be looking forward to the summer
Can Sheffield United’s fans push them forward here?
This will be the last game Sheffield United play as a Premier League club for at least a season, and their fans will want to give them a proper send off before dropping down to the Championship.
Whether The Blades’ players still have any energy in the tank after this season is another matter.
Burnley have been good away from home recently, but what motivation will they have to go for the win here? It could finish as a draw.
Sheffield United 1-1 Burnley
