Sheffield United host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane on 13 September 2026 in Matchweek 7 of the EFL Championship. Both clubs dropped out of the Premier League recently and are chasing play off positions, with United sitting 10th on nine points from six games and Wolves one place below on eight from five. United haven't won back to back league games this season, going W D L W W across their last five including cup games, while Peixoto's Wolves have scored 12 goals in five outings under him and will want to carry that into a difficult away fixture.
Chris Wilder took charge at Bramall Lane on 15 September 2025, replacing Ruben Selles and Cesar Peixoto only arrived at Wolves on 15 June 2026 after Rob Edwards departed, so there is barely a head to head record to speak of between them.
Sheffield United's recent form reads W D L W W: a 2-1 win over Blackburn in the Championship on 8 September, a 1-3 loss at Norwich on the 5th, a 3-2 win over Bolton on 1 September, a 2-2 draw at Cardiff on 29 August and a 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Blackburn on 25 August. Wolves have been patchier, going D L W W D over the same period: a 2-2 draw with Birmingham on 6 September, a 2-4 loss at West Ham on 1 September, a 4-1 win over Stoke on 29 August, a 2-0 Carabao Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday on 25 August and a 3-1 win at Preston on 22 August.
Sheffield United are missing three players who matter: Tom Davies is out with a hamstring problem, Rhys Norrington-Davies is also sidelined with the same issue and John Egan remains unavailable with a leg injury, absences that disrupt both the midfield and defensive structure. Wolves have their own problems, with Matt Doherty ruled out by a knee injury, Sam Johnstone absent with a shoulder issue and Enso Gonzalez also sidelined with a knee problem, forcing a goalkeeping change and leaving Wolves short of cover on the right.
Wilder runs a direct, high pressing 4-4-2, with Thomas Cannon leading the line looking to run in behind while Bamford drops to link play. Wolves' defensive absences shift more responsibility onto Cooper between the posts, though they don't fundamentally alter what Wilder will ask of his attack.
Peixoto's system runs on quick transitions through Jimenez, with Gomes and Lopez operating in the half spaces and channels rather than sitting on the flanks. Whoever replaces Johnstone in goal needs to play short under press, if the stand in can't do that, Wolves lose the first passing option that triggers their forward runs.
Without Davies and Norrington-Davies, United will struggle to win the ball high up the pitch and their wide players will drop to cover, reducing their ability to join attacks and opening the right channel for Gomes to receive in space. Bamford's aerial ability gives United a route to goal against Wolves' centre backs but with those three absences in defence and midfield, United simply don't have the personnel to handle Wolves' forward combinations for 90 minutes.
United's plan will probably involve compact low blocks and long balls to Cannon, looking to hit Wolves on the counter through Cannon's runs in behind. Peixoto's side will look to dominate possession using Lopez's movement to create overloads in half spaces, while Doherty's absence removes the overlapping option down the right and may push Wolves toward central combinations with Jimenez dropping into space.
Wolves have the better of this fixture historically, winning eight of 13 previous meetings against three for United and two draws.
United's set pieces will cause problems for a Wolves side missing their first choice goalkeeper and there is a secondary thread worth noting: United are still trying to put distance between themselves and the difficult early run under Selles, while Wolves arrive having scored 12 goals across five league and cup outings.
Wolves to win 2-1. United's set piece threat in the opening half hour should give Wolves' stand in goalkeeper an uncomfortable start but the triple absence of Davies, Norrington-Davies and Egan looks likely to cost them, leaving gaps that Wolves' attack can exploit through quick transitions. Jimenez and Gomes are the likeliest sources of the away goals while Cannon should get United on the board.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
