Paul Heckingbottom sends Sheffield United warning amid Blackburn's slump in form

Paul Heckingbottom has warned his Sheffield United players that they have to be ready to face a 'dangerous' Blackburn Rovers side at Bramall Lane tonight.

This is despite Blackburn's recent slump in form and Heckingbottom has praised Tony Mowbray's men ahead of what is a pivotal game towards the top end of the Championship table.

Meanwhile, the Blades come into the game off the back of a seven-game unbeaten run and boast the division's best record over the past month, winning five and drawing two matches in that period.

Blackburn will be without top scorer Ben Brereton Diaz, who has netted 20 goals this season, while Bradley Dack and Ian Poveda are also both missing but Heckingbottom has recognised the threat that Rovers could bring to the game.

He said: "They have been really dangerous. Scored goals, got a clear way of playing with how Tony sets them up.

"They're very forward thinking and dangerous when they regain the ball and that's when teams are at their most vunerable.

"They try to exploit that pace on the counter attack, so we know they're going to be a threat. They're well organised and like I said, they're all very comfortable with how they play.

"Even when Tony makes changes, they're like for like even when they're coming in to perform in that role for the team. So, we know they're going to be very well organised.

"We know that it's going to be a tough night for us again at Bramall Lane and we have be ready for it. We know how we want to play and we have to look at ourselves and bring our best game, while respecting them and trying to deal with their threats."

Blackburn have won just one of their six matches and are still above the Blades but the gap between the two sides could be reduced to one point with a