Sheffield United will look to score their first goal of the 2026/27 Championship season when they face Cardiff City on Saturday. The Blades travel to the Cardiff City Stadium for a 15:00 kick-off in Gameweek 3.
Chris Wilder's side are the only team in the division yet to find the net, but they are also one of just two sides, alongside Leicester City, who have not conceded a league goal. This has resulted in two points from two goalless draws. Their defensive solidity has been aided by Mark McGuinness, who has contributed to the clean sheets despite not being a regular starter in Wilder's plans this season. The manager will hope Kalvin Phillips is ready for a longer role after the midfielder managed 30 minutes in Tuesday's EFL Cup tie.
What is Sheffield United's record at Cardiff?
Sheffield United have a strong recent record at the Cardiff City Stadium. They have not lost there since a 2-0 defeat in November 2017, a match where Chris Wilder was in the visiting dugout and Neil Warnock managed the home side. "Sheffield United have not lost at the Cardiff City Stadium since 2017, when Neil Warnock manned the blue dugout," Wilder noted this week. Maintaining this unbeaten run would provide a platform to build on their slow start. You can track the team's progress on our standings page.
How have both teams started the season?
Both clubs sit on two points after identical starts. Each has drawn both of their opening Championship fixtures. Cardiff's young side earned draws against Wrexham AFC and Derby County, while also suffering a cup loss to Norwich City. Their attack has been sparked by Yousef Salech, who has four goals in four matches across all competitions this season. Defensively, the Bluebirds have been bolstered by the signing of Krystian Bielik and the return to training of Gabriel Osho. Their last match saw 15-year-old Noah Anyadike start at centre-half.
Sheffield United's lack of a creative spark so far could play into Cardiff's hands. However, the Blades have players capable of changing that. Tom Cannon and Romelle Donovan both got off the mark with goals in midweek EFL Cup matches, which may boost their confidence for league action.
What are the injury concerns for Sheffield United?
The Blades are dealing with some early-season fitness issues. Full-back Femi Seriki and winger Tahith Chong are both battling injury woes. Their absence limits Wilder's options in wide areas. For the latest updates on player availability, fans can check our dedicated injuries section. Despite these concerns, United fielded a relatively full-strength side in their last outing and will be expected to do so again at the 33,280-capacity Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff will be looking to turn their noted resilience into a first win of the campaign. Sheffield United's immediate focus is on finding a cutting edge to complement their defensive organisation. The Blades' next fixture after this is a home match against Middlesbrough on Saturday 5 September, a detail you can confirm on our fixtures list.
