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Sheffield United v West Brom preview

In the late 1990s, Darren Moore and Chris Wilder were part of the same grizzly Bradford City back-line.

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Jay Rodriguez of West Bromwich Albion celebrates (AMA)

But now they’re both back in the second tier trying to coach teams out of it with a far more cultured style of play.

“He was right-back and I was right centre-back, we know each other really well,” said Moore. “He was an intelligent footballer, a sharp character and witty in the dressing room.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him. Even though we were defenders, we both play attacking football on the front foot.”

Moore speaks about Wilder in glowing terms – there’s a feeling the 51-year-old is slightly further down the road than Albion’s head coach is with his team.

“There’s a lot of work to be done here, to get it to where I’m happy like Chris is,” said Moore.

“I’m trying to get to a level like that where you’re happy with the team, it’s shape, personnel.

“They play a wonderful brand of football with a formation they’re used to.

“He’s had a few seasons on it, he’s happy with it. There’s wonderful fluidity in it, there’s an attacking aggressive style which has been built over a few seasons.

“He’s had that continuity and he understands the Championship.

“We’ll have to be at our best, while combatting that we’ll try and keep our own style going.

“We feel we can cause them problems too, we’ve got some good players. It bodes well for another exciting game.

“We’ll look to compete against them as best we can.”

It’s a rather odd trend in football; defenders going on to play expansive football.

And Moore admits his appreciation of attackers has changed somewhat.

Likely Albion line-up

“I wouldn’t agree as a player!” he said. “Now that I’m the other side of the fence in the dugout, the attackers are crucial.

“They’ve certainly been crucial for us this season in terms of goals.

“Sometimes you look at your team and think that you are only as strong as your front two, as the old saying goes. We want to be creative and to carry that goal threat.”

Dwight Gayle is arguably Albion’s greatest goal threat and he is likely to keep his place in the line-up following his 10th of the season against Villa.

The biggest selection problem for Moore will be in midfield where – if James Morrison passes his fitness test – Albion’s boss will have to decide between him and Gareth Barry.

The hope is that Sheffield United’s aggressive possession-based football allows Albion to counter at speed, like they did against Leeds.

And two wins out of their last two away from home suggests this new approach has improved form on the road.

But even though their squad cost considerably more than United’s, it won’t be an easy game against Moore’s old team-mate.

The Opposition - Sheffield United

When Tony Mowbray came to The Hawthorns earlier this season, he championed Sheffield United as the best team in the division.

The former Baggies boss was impressed with Chris Wilder’s unique tactical approach which sees his centre-backs overlapping their wing-backs to create overloads in the wide areas.

The 51-year-old Blades boss may not be getting the same recognition as Marcelo Bielsa or Daniel Farke, but he is arguably one of the most intriguing managers in the division.

A Sheffield United fan, his meteoric rise through the leagues has been staggering.

A League Two champion with Northampton Town three seasons ago, he won 100 points with the Blades in League One a year later en route to another title.

Darren Moore in his Bradford days

Last season, the newly-promoted side started like a freight train before fading in the second half of the season. But they still finished in the top 10 with an impressive season of consolidation.

This year though, the Blades have sharpened up and they look like staying the course.

That’s not because they’ve invested heavily, United’s record signing is defender John Egan, who they bought from Brentford for £4.1million in summer.

In fact, their starting XI tomorrow will cost less than Jay Rodriguez.

It’s because the players are more used to the division, Wilder is more used to the division, and his methods are continuing to bear fruit.

Danny Higginbotham, a regular Championship observer and Sky pundit, describes it as ‘organised chaos.’

Comfortable in possession, his pioneering 3-5-2 formation is one that others are yet to get to grips with.

At the back, Chris Basham, Jack O’Connell and Egan are all comfortable on the ball, and when one of them runs around the wing-backs, Oliver Norwood drops deep to fill the hole.

Norwood has won promotion out of the Championship in each of the past two seasons, first with Brighton and then with Fulham, he knows what it takes to get out of the division.

His side currently sit in third place, and have climbed back above the Baggies thanks to two wins in three.

“We’re third in the division, above a lot of big clubs and only behind a couple who have been doing really well,” said Wilder.

“We’re right in the mix and enjoying it. People should shout from the rooftops that we’re third... why not?”

Former Wolves striker Leon Clarke faces a race to be fit for tomorrow’s match after playing through the pain barrier against Brentford.

“Leon knew we needed options and it tells you a lot about him that he was willing to do what he did,” said Wilder.

Pie and a pint: Away fans are welcome at Devonshire Cat, in nearby Wellington Street. It has around 12 hand pulled beers on offer. A pie at ground is £3.50.

Memory Lane: The Battle of Bramall Lane in 2002... Neil Warnock’s Blades reduced to six men and the game abandoned – but Albion were awarded the points later.

The Key man: If Albion are to have joy on the break, Matt Phillips will be a crucial component in that. Few have the power and pace of him in the division.