Two out-of-form sides meet in the Sky Bet Championship as Sunderland host Sheffield United. James Cantrill previews the game picking out his best bet.
It was a pretty disastrous weekend at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United’s 1-0 defeat to promotion rivals Luton was coupled with a 3-1 win for Middlesbrough at Swansea. It saw the Blades' lead in the race for second spot reduced to four points and moved the Hatters to within seven of them.
Up until mid-February, it looked like the South Yorkshire outfit would be joining Burnley in gaining promotion to the Premier League. Sheffield United were 10 points clear of third, with a game in hand.
Boro beat them 3-1, swinging momentum in the Teessiders' favour, and in the six games since United have lost as many games as they have won.
Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT, Wednesday
TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
It all seemed to unravel that evening.
Paul Heckingbottom was sent off for kicking the fourth official's board and Jack Robinson squared up to a fan mid-game.
In truth, the Blades have been off-colour since the turn of the year though, taking 17 points from 11 league games. To put that into perspective, Boro and Burnley have taken 27 and Luton 24.
This drop-off coincides with Iliman Ndiaye’s dip in form.
Sheffield United’s chief creator tops his side's charts for goals and assists, but has only found the net domestically twice in 2023 and failed to set any up.
Sunderland have their own concerns as their play-off push has tailed off with only one win in their last five games.
That victory came in their most recent game, courtesy of a pinpoint effort from Abdoullah Ba, three points that kept the Black Cats five behind sixth-placed Millwall.
Finding an angle in the traditional markets is tricky here, so I'm instead opting for GEORGE BALDOCK TO BE SHOWN A CARD.
Injury and the form of Jayden Bogle had seen Baldock fall out of favour but with Bogle flatlining, the more pragmatic Baldock should get the nod at the Stadium of Light.
The wingback has picked up 33 domestic cards in six seasons at South Yorkshire and could add to that tally opposing Jack Clarke, Sunderland's most fouled player drawing an average of 1.8 per game.
Sunderland v Sheffield United best bets and score prediction
- 1pt George Baldock to be shown a card at 3/1 (bet365)
Score prediction: Sunderland 2-2 Sheffield United (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)
Odds correct at 1710 GMT (13/03/23)
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