Sheffield United begin their Championship season with the visit of Birmingham to Bramall Lane on Saturday (17:30 BST). Both teams began the campaign with a victory, the Blades winning 3-0 at Mansfield in the EFL Cup first round last weekend while Blues prevailed 1-0 at Swansea to reach round two. Chris Wilder's side have lost five of their past six games on the opening day, including a 4-1 home humbling by Bristol City last season under Ruben Selles, while Chris Davies' men have drawn their past four curtain-raisers, with a 1-1 home draw against Ipswich last season.
Sheffield United are unbeaten in their past five league games against Birmingham City (W3 D2), having failed to win any of the previous five meetings (D3 L2). Birmingham City have won just one of their past eight away league games against Sheffield United (D3 L4), with that victory coming on the opening day of the 2021-22 Championship season under Lee Bowyer (1-0). Only Leicester City (32) dropped more points from winning positions in the EFL Championship last season than Sheffield United (29), while the Blades lost five of their final nine matches at Bramall Lane last term (W2 D2). Only 20 of Birmingham City's 64 points in the EFL Championship were picked up away from home (31.3%), the lowest proportion in the competition last season. In the EFL Championship last season, Sheffield United (11) and Birmingham (11.1) had the two lowest passes per defensive action values, while only Ipswich Town (67) recorded more shot-ending high turnovers than the Blades (59). [BBC]