Sunderland v Sheffield United

Both of these teams are in automatic promotion contention, Sunderland started the season really quickly but have found points harder to come by more recently, whilst Sheffield United also have to try and bounce back from a difficult festive period to protect their top two placings.

⭐ Sunderland v Sheffield United Best Bets

The general form for both clubs over the festive period has been ropey in terms of results, compared to their usual high standards, so this could be a tense encounter, with so much on the line, even with so long to go in the season, both teams will want to start the new calendar year on the front foot.

Sunderland remain unbeaten in the league at home this season. This should give them a slight edge from a result perspective, but there isn’t much margin in the prices to encourage that as a best bet. Indeed, the draw is probably the best bet in that market, given that Sheffield United have fought for draws against Coventry and West Brom away from home recently, and the likelihood of a low-goal game.

It is the goals market which appeals most in this from a best bet perspective as well. Both teams could cancel each other out and neither would see a draw as a bad result here, so could settle at 0-0 or 1-1. Under 2.5 goals is 1.65, which is our tip for the best bet, but the 0-0 & 1-1 correct score combination could be worth a look at 3.6.

👕 Sunderland v Sheffield United Predicted XI

🔍 Sunderland v Sheffield United Players to Watch

🔴 Jobe Bellingham

Bellingham began the season playing in a deeper role, which he did well in, but since the 5th game of the season, he has had at least 1 shot in every game, apart from the match in which he was sent off, he hasn't always hit the target, but at evens is well worth chancing. Bellingham has become a key player for Sunderland, playing every minute since his return from suspension following that card. He is also a player to follow in the foul markets, only failing to commit a foul in 1 Championship match this season.

🔴 Wilson Isidor

Sunderland’s most potent weapon, Isidor is still very much learning his trade but shows immense promise. He is Sunderland’s most frequent shooter, averaging 2.53 shots per 90 over the course of the Championship season so far, and he gets a decent number on target, averaging 1.15 Shots on Target per 90. He has had at least 1 shot on target in 8 of his last 10 matches.

⚪️ Gustavo Hamer

Hamer is worth a mention here as he is very likely to play the full match, he has done so in United’s last 4, but he is also on a great streak of fouls.

Hamer has committed 8 fouls in his last 3 matches, including 4 last time out against West Brom. He is averaging 1.85 fouls per 90, the highest in the regular Sheffield United starting XI, and has committed a foul in 9 of his last 10 starts.

📂 Sunderland v Sheffield United Cheat Sheet

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💻 Sunderland v Sheffield United Form and Tactics

Sunderland’s results have been ok of late, winning 3 of their last 6, but a first defeat in 7 on Sunday, which was probably undeserved on the pattern of play, has the chance to really deflate morale for Sunderland. They remain undefeated at home, but aren’t amongst the elite in the division for their xGF total or xGA total, ranking 8th and 7th in those metrics respectively.

Le Bris’ ideal tactical setup would be a 4-2-3-1 with Dan Neil as one of the holding midfielders. There has been very little tactical switching from the Frenchman in terms of overall shape this season, but there was some personnel rotation in the Stoke match which didn’t pay off. We should expect Sunderland to return to as full strength as possible for this match.

Sheffield United had been on a long undefeated run coming into the festive fixtures. A home defeat to Burnley on Boxing Day both ruined their own unbeaten home record and put their top two position in jeopardy, and then a failure to bounce back from that by drawing at home to West Brom means that a positive result would be a huge boost for Blades here.

Chris Wilder is also preferring to use a 4-2-3-1 shape this season. However, usually, Gus Hamer occupies the left-wing slot, but he uses that role very differently to move inside and create overloads in midfield, whilst the energetic Harrison Burrows uses the left touchline to provide chances from that side. The balance works well on the left, whilst the right usually has a more defensive full-back, usually Alfie Gilchrist, who can create a three-man defence if Burrows does go off on an attacking foray.

🏁 Sunderland v Sheffield United Ref Watch

• Referee: Matt Donohue
• He has refereed 149 Championship matches, and has been used 13 times this season, so is clearly based at this level this season.
• This season he averages 23  fouls given per Championship match, which is quite high in comparison to his peers.
• He is averaging 3.89 yellow cards per fixture in the Championship in his career so far, which is on the higher side, and matches his record of 3.85 yellow cards per match this season.
• Donohue has given four red cards this season, a very high number, and his average is 0.19 red cards per match in the Championship, a higher than average figure.

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* I recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.

* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.