Sheffield United ended a three-game winless run and reignited their Championship title charge when they battled to a 2-1 win at Watford last weekend.
Andre Brooks‘s 53rd-minute strike proved to be the match-winner in a closely-fought contest and has helped the Blades – who remain third in the table – move to within just one point of leaders Leeds United, who dropped points in a 3-3 draw with Hull City.
Chris Wilder was left “quite emotional” following Sheffield United’s win at Watford and has encouraged his team, riddled with injuries, to maintain their “incredible effort” if order to build a positive run of form and boost their promotion push.
The FA Cup is next on the agenda, though, with the Blades vying to advance beyond the third round for the sixth time in eight seasons and for the seventh time in a row against an opponent from the same division.
Sheffield United head into Thursday’s contest having failed to win their last two home games against Burnley (0-2) and West Bromwich Albion (1-1), but the four-time FA Cup winners – most recently in 1925 when they beat Cardiff 1-0 in the final – have won their last five competitive meetings with the Bluebirds, scoring 11 goals in the process.
Following a miserable nine-game winless run towards the end of 2024, Cardiff have since picked up five points from their last three Championship games to strengthen their hopes of survival.
A 2-1 win at Watford has been followed by successive 1-1 draws with Coventry City and Middlesbrough, games in which they came from behind to rescue a precious point; Calum Chambers equalised against the latter last weekend.
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Omer Riza felt that his ‘resilient’ team were good value for their point at the Riverside, and although the Bluebirds remain 23rd in the table, they are only sitting in the relegation zone on goal difference and have a game in hand on some of the teams in and around them.
Cardiff are sure to have one eye on Championship encounters at home to Watford and Welsh rivals Swansea City later this month, but they must first turn their attention to the FA Cup and will attempt to avoid crashing out in the third round for the fifth straight season
