Sheffield United vs Sunderland Prediction: Fight for promotion continues

Sheffield United and Sunderland will continue their promotion fight when they clash at the Bramall Lane on Friday. The hosts are unbeaten at home this season, while the visitors are unbeaten in their last ten games. Can either side win, or would a share of points be enough? Below are previews, possible starting 11, expert betting tips, and odds.

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Sheffield United continued their perfect run at home this season with a 3-0 win over Oxford United in their last game. Tyrese Campbell set up Callum O’Hare for the opening goal just 10 minutes into the game before he found the back of the net 16 minutes later. Jesuran Rak-Sakyi put the final nail in the coffin in the 58th minute. The Blades remain unbeaten in their last six games, with five wins and a draw. They have won their last seven home games and are unbeaten at home this season in all nine games played in all competitions. They even kept a clean sheet in their last seven games at home. They sit second on the table with 35 points in 17 games, scoring 24 goals and conceding 9. They have conceded the second-fewest goal, just behind Burnley (6) this season. Meanwhile, Anel Ahmedhodzic (direct red card), Rhian Brewster (muscle injury), Oliver Arblaster (knee injury), Kieffer Moore (calf Injury), and Sai Sachdev (broken leg) are all out of this game.

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Sunderland were held to a goalless draw in their last game against West Brom. They had 17 goal attempts in the game but only had two on target. They have now played a draw in their last five games but are unbeaten in their previous ten games. They sit 4th on the table with 33 points in 17 games, scoring 26 goals and conceding 12. Meanwhile, Ian Poveda (muscle injury), Salis Abdul Samed (leg injury), Ahmed Abdullahi (leg injury), Niall Huggins (knee surgery), and Jenson Seelt (knee surgery) will miss this game.

Sheffield United — Michael Cooper, Femi Seriki, Harry Souttar, Jack Robinson, Harrison Burrows, Sydie Peck, Vinicius Souza, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Callum O'Hare, Gustavo Hamer, Tyrese Campbell.

Sunderland — Anthony Patterson, Luke O'Nien, Chris Mepham, Daniel Ballard, Trai Hume, Jobe Bellingham, Dan Neil, Patrick Roberts, Chris Rigg, Eliezer Mayenda, Wilson Isidor.

It will be an exciting clash at Bramall Lane, where The Blades remain unbeaten this season. Also, no club has more points at home than Sheffield United (22) this season. I don’t expect them to lose this game, especially against a side with no win in their last five games. Moreover, Sheffield United won four of the last five meetings against Sunderland. Also, there is a high likelihood of scarcity of goals in this game. The hosts kept a clean sheet in their last seven games at home, which I expect them to keep again in this game, while 5 of the last six games that Sunderland played have seen less than three goals scored. Moreover, scoring goals has been Sunderland's major problem at this crucial point.

• BTTS-NO for 1.80 odds
• W1 for 2.05 odds
• Under 2.5 for1.66 odds