GolVolt — Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough: preview, line-ups, chances

What to watch for

Facts from our data worth knowing before kick-off. After the match we check them ✓ / ✗.

Streak

Middlesbrough unbeaten in 7 matches

WDDWWDW

All competitions, friendlies excluded: 4 wins and 3 draws. Last defeat: 8 September, 0:3 against Crystal Palace.

Streak

Middlesbrough have scored in 7 matches in a row

WDDWWDW

All competitions, friendlies excluded: 19 goals in those matches.

Last time

Last meeting, 9 February 2026: Sheffield United – Middlesbrough 1:2

WLWW

Player in form

Will Lankshear: 5 goals in 5 league matches

Goals5 xG3.36

Scoring more than his chances suggest (xG 3.4).

Attack

Middlesbrough score 2.6 goals per match

Sheffield United1.6 Middlesbrough2.6

Last 5 matches in all competitions. Sheffield United score 1.6.

Players to watch

Championship, this season.

Patrick Bamford

Sheffield United · forward

5goals 1assist 6.81avg rating

Last match, Derby County: 1 goal, rating 7.3.

Will Lankshear

Middlesbrough · forward

11goals 0assists 7.30avg rating

Last match, Bolton Wanderers: 2 goals, rating 8.5.

Who is out

Injuries and suspensions

The list usually arrives about 48 hours before kick-off. There is none for this match yet.

Recent matches

Bar height is the goal difference. Hover or tap a bar for the details.

“This set-up” is Sheffield United at home and Middlesbrough away, as in this match.

Sheffield United

at home · 10

3W3D4L1.6scored per match1.7conceded per match

Middlesbrough

away · 10

4W2D4L1.7scored per match1.5conceded per match

Head to head

4 meetings since 2024.

Last time · 9 Feb 2026 · Championship Sheffield United 1:2 Middlesbrough Bamford 73' · Conway 19' · McGree 45'. Middlesbrough: 2 wins in a row in this fixture.

1wins

0 draws2.2 goals per match · both scored in 2 of 4

3wins

Expected lineups

For now, the last starting XI: Sheffield United (4-2-3-1, last: Derby County) · Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1, last: Bolton Wanderers).

Official around 12:30, Sat 26 Dec

MCCooper HCChoudhury JTTanganga LKKitching HBBurrows KPPhillips OAArblaster TCChong TCCannon BDDíaz PBBamford RVVitek NBBorges AMMalanda APPhillips CBBrittain SBBerhalter AMMorris TCConway RMMcGree ADCozier-Duberry WLLankshear

Sheffield UnitedMiddlesbrough

When the provider publishes the expected XI (usually a day before the match), it replaces the last one. A player on the absence list stays on the pitch as a pale, dashed “ghost”.

Who wins?

The provider's forecast usually arrives a few days before kick-off.

Pro analysisGolVolt ProPro extends the free match profile with its own goals model, lineup stability and results from similar fixtures. Coverage depends on the available data.

Pro analysis

GolVolt Pro

Pro extends the free match profile with its own goals model, lineup stability and results from similar fixtures. Coverage depends on the available data.

Volt matchup

49.8 62.0