Stu Rayner, Chief Football Writer at the Yorkshire Post, was kind enough to once again give us his time ahead of tonight's clash between the Blades and the Black Cats...
Second in the league with 11 wins (the most in the division), four draws and just two losses. How did the Blades deal with relegation and how are fans finding life back in the Championship?
Surprisingly well. No Sunderland fan needs telling how hard it can be to get things going again after relegation from the Premier League, as Luton are now finding, but Chris Wilder made a lot of shrewd Championship signings and opened the door to some of the club's youngsters and the fans are enjoying seeing their team win again.
Sheffield United's top scorer is Tyrese Campbell with five goals in 12 games. What kind of player is he?
A goalscorer! Kieffer Moore, the first choice No 9, is more involved in the build-up but since he's been out injured, Campbell has really blossomed by being the man to get on the end of things. Those five goals have all come in the last six matches.
Who is their best player? Gus Hamer and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi are both on four goals themselves...
Hamer is a crafty Premier League quality player who's found himself in the wrong division, Rak-Sakyi a raw winger on loan from Crystal Palace who is hard to stop on his day. But the best player? That's probably between Hamer, giant centre-back Harry Souttar and goalkeeper Michael Cooper now Oliver Arblaster is injured, although VInicius Souza is the most improved after a dreadful debut season. It's the Blades' goals against record which is really impressive.
What do you and the Sheffield United fans in general think of Chris Wilder at the moment?
Chris Wilder performed miracles in his first spell in charge and was manager of the year in 2018-19 despite being in the Championship so he had the credit in the bank to protect him from the miserable relegation he was in charge for the second half of. He wears his heart on his sleeve and gets videoed singing songs about Sheffield Wednesday and their manager after derbies. Oh, and he wins games.
Which Sunderland player worries you the most?
You always have to be wary of Patrick Roberts but the Chris Rigg I saw against Leeds United earlier in the season will have Blades fans squirming in their seats.
What's your score prediction for the game?
1-0 to Sheffield United, Tyrese Campbell to continue his fine form in front of goal.
Obviously it's early but where do you reckon both sides will finish this season? Will we meet in the play-offs? Or both go up automatically maybe?
I think it's between Burnley and these two as to who goes up automatically with Leeds. It is asking a lot of such a young Black Cats midfield to go the 46-game distance so it might depend what business Sunderland do in January. Sheffield United are hoping to complete a long-trailed takeover so they can be in the market for reinforcements too, especially with the talismanic Arblaster unlikely to play again this season.
Finally, where should the travelling Sunderland fans go pre-match for a pint?
The Railway is just across the road from the ground and very popular. Whether away fans are allowed in, I don't know...
