National cups are something special for many teams and supporters. Today's match will decide whether it's Sheffield United or Derby County that keep their silverware dream alive.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Sheffield United form and stats
This is not the first game this season in the Carabao Cup for Sheffield, as the manager S. Jokanović led his troops to eliminate Carlisle United, and reach the 2nd Round. Last season their Carabao Cup adventure ended in the 2nd round.Two Championship home games so far for Sheffield United, who are yet to win here at Bramall Lane. Only 0 points so far. Sheffield United are very eager to stop a potential losing streak at Bramall Lane, having lost their two previous games here.
The Sheffield United fans got no joy from their last match, a Championship game also here at Bramall Lane: A 1-2 defeat against Huddersfield Town. Midfielder Oliver Norwood was the best player on the team with a rating of 8.13 (out of ten) in that game. Norwood hit two key passes and had 86 successful passes (of 95 total). The defeat against Huddersfield Town was especially painful as the deciding goal against was scored three minutes into stoppage time (by L. Colwill).
Prior to that was the away defeat visiting West Bromwich Albion (0-4).The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Sheffield have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found six games) they have won two times, drawn two and lost two.
There will be little rest for Sheffield United after this match as they are travelling to Luton Town for a Championship game in only four days.
It's still early days, but we have some goal stats for the Sheffield United at home in the league. 1 on target and 3 scored by the opposition; from 2 matches.
Derby County form and stats
The traveling awayteam has defeated Salford City in order to reach 2nd round of Carabao Cup. Last season their Carabao Cup adventure ended in the 2nd round.Things could have gone better for Derby County in their Championship away matches, but 3 points from 2 games is all right.
The County goalkeeper Ryan Allsop is collecting clean sheets like a laundry worker. It's been 180 league minutes without conceding a goal, and counting.
County played 0-0 against Middlesbrough in their previous match. Midfielder Graeme Shinnie was the best performer of that match, with a rating of 7.8. Shinnie hit one key pass.
Prior to that result County won their away game at Hull City in the Championship. The scoreline was 1-0.County are the outsiders in this one, but not by much. Their performance in similar games (being the away team and moderate outsiders) is three wins, three draws and nine defeats. From a total of 15 matches.
A quick return to home after this game, as County are hosting Nottingham Forest in the Championship only four days away.
It's early days yet, but Derby County has scored 2 and conceded 2 goals from their travels in the league so far (2 games).
Head 2 Head
Sheffield United-Derby County H2H statistics last ten meetings regardless of arena: Sheffield six wins, Derby County two wins, two draws. four of these ten matches had three or more goals (over 2,5).Top Goalscorers
  B. Sharp 1 goals |   J. Stretton 1 goals |  C. Davies 1 goals |
Sheffield United missing players
Derby County missing players
| Sheffield United | Derby County | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 8 | 5 | Won | W | 2 | 5 | ||
| 1 | 0 | Drew | D | 1 | 7 | ||
| 16 | 7 | Lost | L | 9 | 13 | ||
| 16 | 7 | Scored | S | 8 | 25 | ||
| 37 | 14 | Conceded | C | 20 | 36 | ||
| 96% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 92% | 92% | ||
| 56% | 50% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 67% | 68% | ||
| 40% | 25% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 58% | 48% | ||
| 16% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 17% | 20% | ||
| 4% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 8% | ||
| 12% | 17% | BTTS | BTTS | 42% | 48% | ||
| 36% | 42% | Clean Sheets | C S | 25% | 28% | ||
| 56% | 42% | Failed to Score | F T | 42% | 32% | ||
| 4.5 | 4.7 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 4.8 | 4.7 | ||
| 5.4 | 5.5 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 3.3 | 4 | ||
| 1.5 | 1.4 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 1.2 | 1.4 | ||
| 1 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9.1 | 10.4 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 9.2 | 10 | ||
| 2.5 | 2.5 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.1 | 3.4 | ||
| 22% | 23% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 22% | 29% | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Fulham | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 10 |
| 2 | West Bromwich Albion | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Stoke City | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| 4 | Coventry City | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| 5 | Queens Park Rangers | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| 6 | Cardiff City | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| 7 | AFC Bournemouth | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| 8 | Birmingham City | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| 9 | Blackburn Rovers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 10 | Huddersfield Town | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -2 | 7 |
| 11 | Luton Town | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -2 | 6 |
| 12 | Middlesbrough | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 13 | Barnsley | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 14 | Derby County | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 15 | Bristol City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | -1 | 4 |
| 16 | Swansea City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 4 |
| 17 | Peterborough United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -3 | 4 |
| 18 | Reading | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
| 19 | Hull City | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | -3 | 3 |
| 20 | Preston North End | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -4 | 3 |
| 21 | Millwall | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -3 | 2 |
| 22 | Blackpool | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -3 | 2 |
| 23 | Sheffield United | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -6 | 1 |
| 24 | Nottingham Forest | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -4 | 0 |
- Sheffield United FC
- The Star - (local newspaper)
- The Yorkshire Post - (local newspaper)
- Derby County FC
- Derby Telegraph - (local newspaper)