IPSWICH Town host Sheffield United on Saturday - determined to build on last week's precious victory against Wigan Athletic.

It was only the Blues' second win of the season, their first at home and only their third at Portman Road throughout a dismal 2018.

Matches between Town and the Blades have been plentiful down the years, with the fixture likely to conjure up particularly special memories for George Burley.

During his tenure as manager, Ipswich had 14 games against Sheffield United and only lost once - a 1-0 FA Cup defeat in January 1998.

That said, one of Burley's most crushing disappointments came at the hands of the Blades - then managed by Howard Kendall - in the 97/98 play-offs.

Town suffered heartache, losing on away goals, after a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane was followed by a 2-2 draw at Portman Road.

Swede Niklas Gudmundsson was among the scorers that fateful night.

Aside from that, however, there were plenty of highlights.

Burley's first two matches against the Blades finished all-square, with Ian Marshall netting twice in a 2-2 draw in September 1995.

The following season, both matches ended 3-1 to Town.

James Scowcroft scored twice up north - Richard Naylor's debut - while Neil Gregory's hat-trick brings back memories from the home fixture in March 1997 (two months before the play-off heartache).

Gregory, who joined Colchester United for a then-record fee of £50,000 in March 1998, notched another in the corresponding home game the following season (2-2).

Andy Legg, now an occasional co-commentator on BBC Radio Suffolk, was also on target that day while Matt Holland grabbed the winner in a 1-0 victory at Bramall Lane in March 1998.

Town won both games against the Blades the following season, with West Ham loanee Samassi Abou (remember him?) joining Naylor on the scoresheet in a 2-1 victory in Yorkshire.

Jim Magilton, Scowcroft, Kieron Dyer and Naylor were Town's marksmen in the home game, which finished 4-1.

Burley's final two games against Sheffield United both ended in draws - 2-2 away (Scowcroft and Naylor) and 1-1 at Portman Road (Johnson).