Sheffield United are the front-running promoted side this season and will be confident they can build another unbeaten run against an Aston Villa side teetering just above the relegation zone. They have Brighton and Watford up next. If Dean Smith’s side do lose again and Southampton draw or win then they will sink into the bottom three. Sticking with an almost unchanged side after promotion seems to have worked for Chris Wilder while Villa, who signed 10 players in the summer, have struggled. Lys Mousset – the critical addition in attack to Wilder’s side – will relish Tyrone Mings missing out. Graham Searles
Saturday 3pm
Venue Bramall Lane
Last season Sheffield United 4 Aston Villa 1 (Championship)
Referee Peter Bankes
This season G3 Y11 R0 3.66 cards/game
Odds H Evens A 3-1 D 5-2
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Subs from Moore, Jagielka, Besic, Osborn, L Freeman, K Freeman, Sharp, Stearman, McBurnie, Robinson, Verrips, Bryan
Doubtful None
Injured None
Suspended None
Discipline Y34 R1
Form WDDDLW
Leading scorer Mousset 5
ASTON VILLA
Subs from Nyland, Kalinic, Taylor, Chester, Hause, Ramsey, Lansbury, Hourihane, Kodjia, Jota, Guilbert, O’Hare, Trézéguet
Doubtful None
Injured Mings (hamstring, 21 Dec), Davis (hamstring, unknown), Steer (achilles, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y28 R1
Form LLWDLL
Leading scorers Grealish, Wesley 4
