Unfinished Business in Race For Promotion: Will Former Players Haunt Sky Blues, Or Will In-Form Coventry Blunt the Blades | OneFootball

As Sheffield United prepare to host Coventry City at Bramall Lane this Friday evening, all eyes will be on this Championship encounter, with automatic promotion and play-off implications on the line.

It’s the Blades and the Sky Blues that are first up in round 39 of the second tier as we come out of the international break. Of course, this could particularly work either in favour of United, or against them; with a win they could put some serious pressure on serial promotion bottlers, Leeds United.

Sheffield United Will Hope to Keep Their Cool Against Coventry City on Friday

Sheffield United striker Tyrese Campbell celebrates his goal which gave the Blades the lead against Coventry City. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).

Former Coventry City stars Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare, now donning Sheffield United colours, are poised to face their former club. This season’s earlier meeting at Coventry sparked controversy as Norman Bassette wound up Blades defender Anel Ahmedhodzic, and got him sent off on the stroke of half-time.

The Blades were 2-1 up at the time, thanks to goals from Tyrese Campbell and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, and ended up surrendering the lead with ten minutes to spare. Chris Wilder will hope that the Bosnian defender can keep his cool in the heat of the battle this time around. Nonetheless, I’m sure the United supporters will be giving the Belgian youth international, Bassette, a lively reception.

United have not really had the best of times against Coventry recently, having won just once in the last five meetings, and they’ve seen red in two of those matches.

Could Hamer And O’Hare Strike Against Former Club, Or Will In-Form Sky Blues Blunt the Blades?

Hamer’s journey from Coventry to United in the summer of 2023 has been noteworthy. Since his move, Hamer has seamlessly integrated into the Blades’ team, showcasing his versatility by adapting to roles such as the inverted left-winger, where he has continued to display his playmaking abilities in the Championship.

The Dutchman has 12 goals and 12 assists in 74 appearances for United, with ten of those contributions coming in the Premier League last term, proving he can do it at the level above despite being in a poor team.

Hamer has recently told Dutch media that he would love to go back to his boyhood club Feyenoord, so if the Blades do fail to gain promotion this time around, perhaps the 27-year-old would seek this move in the summer. Especially given the fact that the Eredivisie club is likely to be involved in the Champions League next season.

Meanwhile, O’Hare has had a solid debut season for the Blades, netting two goals and providing six assists in 37 appearances from attacking midfield. The 26-year-old became a villain to the Coventry supporters after penning a deal in S2 last summer, and he certainly wouldn’t mind adding fuel to the fire on Friday evening with goal  involvement against his old side.

Under the guidance of Frank Lampard, Coventry City have experienced a resurgence, with the team displaying a more dynamic and attacking style of play, something that was lacking under Mark Robins this season before his dismissal. This transformation has seen the Sky Blues climb the Championship standings; currently sitting in fifth, winning ten of their last 12 league fixtures.

The away team will be full of confidence heading to Bramall Lane, but so will the Blades after claiming the double over Sheffield Wednesday, as Rhian Brewster slotted home in front of the kop at Hillsborough before the international break commenced.

All stats taken from Transfermarkt.