Sheffield United v Palace

Bramall Lane, Saturday 3.00pm

Action

Team news

Crystal Palace's only injury worry is central defender Paddy McCarthy who has had surgery on a shoulder problem and is expected to be out for around three months.

Sheffield United midfielder Nick Montgomery serves a one-match ban after picking up five yellow cards. Toni Kallio won't play due to illness, while striker Darius Henderson is out with a hip problem.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"We lost to Doncaster 3-0 last week but could have beaten them as we had two or three quality chances. But to win like that at Reading was great.

"We hadn't been paid for six weeks and obviously the club has a lot of financial problems. It's not easy. We've got a small squad and seven players have gone on loan to try to cut the wage bill.

"Our best player (Patrick McCarthy) is out injured for three months but I'm really enjoying the challenge.

"I'm at my best when I've got nothing. The challenge of playing against teams like Sheffield United, all the top sides with their big wages and big squads, is great and I love bringing my players into this sort of game."

Sheffield United - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
13th	20	7	7	6	28

Full league table

Sheffield United - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
6	3	2	1	7	5

Full form table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
03/05/2009	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Sheffield United
20/12/2008	League	Sheffield United	2 - 2	Crystal Palace
29/12/2007	League	Sheffield United	0 - 1	Crystal Palace
22/09/2007	League	Crystal Palace	3 - 2	Sheffield United
30/04/2006	League	Sheffield United	1 - 0	Crystal Palace

All time results

Sheffield United's top scorer

Darius Henderson - 10 goals

Sheffield United's bad boy

Darius Henderson - 5 0

Palace old boys

Glen Little (Trainee)

Ref watch

C H Webster

Last meeting

Palace 0-0 Sheffield United

Sunday May 03 2009

Palace: Speroni, Lawrence, McCarthy, Jose Fonte, Hill, Ertl, Danns (Scowcroft 90), Carle, Moses (Rui Fonte 55), Kuqi, Stokes (Hills 72)

Subs Not Used: Clyne, Cadogan

Booked: Lawrence, Ertl

Sheffield United: Kenny, Walker, Kilgallon, Morgan, Naughton, Halford, Montgomery, Stephen Quinn (Webber 89), Cotterill, Henderson (Beattie 74), Ward (Lupoli 74)

Subs Not Used: Hendrie, O'Toole