Sheffield United and Brentford meet this evening with each hoping to pick up three vital points in their respective quests.

Brentford travel to Bramall Lane still with an outside chance of making the play-offs, knowing a win is a must if they are to close the gap on the sides above them and into the top ten.

Chris Wilder’s Blades, meanwhile, have one defeat in their previous ten and are unbeaten in eight.

A win tonight could see them leapfrog Leeds back into second if they better their rivals’ result.

It’s all ifs, buts and maybes at this stage, but both sides are desperate for points on the board with games slowly but surely running out.

Ahead of the contest between the two teams, Sky Sports once again enlisted the thoughts of David Prutton to predict the outcome of the fixture.

The former football, now pundit said: “All Sheffield United can do is to keep on winning games and hope one of the two sides above them slips up.

“Their form at home is excellent, though, winning their last six at home without conceding a goal.

“Brentford got just their second win on the road all season at Middlesbrough on Saturday, and they will be starting to feel like they could have a sniff of the play-offs.

“But I think the Blades will be too strong for them at home, 2-1.”

The verdict

This is a game about one team looking to move closer to the top two and one hoping to edge nearer to the top-six.

It looks to be an intriguing battle, but form surely counts for something on this occasion.

And the Blades’ current run of results looks to be ominous reading for the Bees ahead of their trip to Bramall Lane.

I think United will once again put on a performance and end the evening with a victory.