Pick of the stats: Sheffield United v Lincoln City
- Published
Chris Wilder will seek to avoid unwanted history as his Sheffield United side welcome Lincoln City to Bramall Lane on Saturday (15:00 BST).
The Blades have won two of their opening eight Championship games to sit 18th, just four points above the relegation zone.
Newly-promoted Lincoln are two points and six places better off and could climb into the top-six with a win, coupled with favourable results elsewhere.
This is the first league meeting between Sheffield United and Lincoln City since the 1983-84 campaign, with the Blades unbeaten in both meetings (W1 D1).
In all competitions, Lincoln City and Sheffield United last met in the League Cup second round in 2023-24 – after a 0-0 draw, the Imps went through 3-2 on penalties.
Sheffield United have lost six of their past 11 home league games (W2 D3), including the last two. Outside of the Premier League, the Blades have never lost three in a row at Bramall Lane under Chris Wilder.
Lincoln have won 11 of their past 14 away league matches (D2 L1), with nine of those wins coming alongside a clean sheet, including the last three, all 1-0 wins. The only two newly promoted sides in Football League history to win four away games in a row without conceding are MK Dons in 2008-09 and Burton in 2015-16, both in League One.
Sheffield United have given the most minutes (5,456) and starts (61) to English players in the Championship this season, while Lincoln rank third for both (4,436 minutes and 50 starts).