Six-point game at Bloomfield Road!
Ten matchdays before the end of the season, the promotion race in the Championship remains exciting. So far, only Fulham has pulled away from the competition, with the rest of the teams still in the fight for promotion.
A number of teams, including Sheffield United, are currently still struggling to make it into the promotion playoffs. The Blades are in sixth place in the table after 36 matchdays, but Sheffield have a number of rivals breathing down their necks. Most recently, the sixth-placed side dropped important points in the promotion race in a six-point game against Coventry.
Wednesday night, Sheffield have another crucial Championship match on the agenda. The Blades are then guests at Blackpool FC’s Bloomfield Road to face the closest chasers in the league. The Seasiders have fought their way back into the promotion race in recent weeks and have already set the stage for a showdown with the Blades.
Lately there were three wins in a row for the promoted Blackpool. If the winning streak continues against Wednesday’s opponents, Blackpool vs Sheffield odds of 3.65 will not only pay out for tip 1. The Seasiders would also close the gap on a starting spot for the promotion playoffs.
Blackpool – statistics & current form
Last season, Blackpool FC finished third in League One and were promoted to the Championship via the promotion playoffs. Because the Seasiders made a mixed start to the season in the second English league, head coach Neil Critchley’s side bumbled around in mid-table for much of the 2021/22 season.
With ten matchdays to go, Blackpool FC remains in mid-table. Nevertheless, the table situation is promising, with only six points separating the promoted club from a spot in the promotion playoffs. That place is currently occupied by the upcoming opponents from Sheffield.
For the Seasiders, the upcoming match is therefore of immense importance. Although Blackpool FC already won against Sheffield United in the first round, the bookmakers currently classify the promoted team as underdogs. Blackpool vs. Sheffield United offers odds of 3.65 for tip 1, but bets on this match have value.
Seasiders build on momentum of winning streak
Barely a month ago, Blackpool FC last tasted defeat in the Championship. Since then, the Seasiders have been successful against teams like Reading (4-1), Stoke (1-0) and Blackpool (1-0). The otherwise weak defense of the promoted team was particularly convincing. They have conceded just one goal in the last three matchdays.
At home, Blackpool have a record of 10-2-7 after 19 matchdays, and head coach Neil Critchley’s side have won five of their six home games at Bloomfield Road so far this calendar year. In addition, Blackpool FC have not lost to the Sheffield Blades since August 2008.
It is therefore by no means far-fetched to make a prediction on the supposed underdogs when Blackpool face Sheffield United. Critchley will have to do without a total of seven players due to injury against the promotion rivals. Compared to the recent starting eleven, minimal changes are expected.
Predicted Blackpool lineup:
Grimshaw; Sterling, Connolly, Ekpiteta, Husband, James; Bowler, Dougall, Stewart, Kirk; Madine
Last games played by Blackpool:
Championship
03/12 2022 – Blackpool 1 – 0 Swansea
03/05 2022 – Stoke 0 – 1 Blackpool
02/26 2022 – Blackpool 4 – 1 Reading
02/23 2022 – Queens Park Rangers 2 – 1 Blackpool
02/19 2022 – Cardiff 1 – 1 Blackpool
Sheffield United – Statistics & current form
Sheffield United have disappointed beyond measure as relegated from the Premier League, especially in the first half of the season so far. Nevertheless, the Blades fought their way back in the second half of the season and are even on course for the promotion playoffs with ten matchdays to go. To do so, Sheffield only needs to successfully defend sixth place in the table.
Last week, the Blades suffered a major setback in the promotion race in the six-point game against Coventry. Head coach Paul Heckingbottom’s side remained winless for the third time in their last four competitive games. Numerous rivals have taken advantage of the situation and are now breathing down the Blades’ necks.
Heckingbottom & Co. cannot afford to lose any more points in the current league situation. Sheffield United, who are level on points with Luton Town, owe their sixth-place finish solely to their superior goal difference.
Is the Blades’ away crisis worsening?
Sheffield United have already lost to their upcoming opponents from Blackpool in the first leg, despite having home advantage. Because Heckingbottom’s team has hardly been convincing away from home lately, a revenge in the second leg tends to be ruled out. The Blades have not won any of their last three away games.
In fact, they’ve lost two away games in a row, including a crushing defeat to Coventry, which saw the PL relegation team score four times in total. On average, the team conceded more than one goal per away game. It is therefore obvious that the Blades will also concede at least one goal against Blackpool.
Heckingbottom will have to do without a total of seven players against the Seasiders due to injury. In addition, there is still a big question mark over whether Baldock will play. If you want to bet on Blackpool vs. Sheffield United, you can get odds of 2.20 in case of success.
Predicted lineup of Sheffield United:
Foderingham; Gordon, Egan, Robinson; Osborn, Norwood, Berge, Norrington-Davies; Gibbs-White, Ndiaye; Sharp
Last matches played by Sheffield United:
Championship
03/12 2022 – Coventry 4 – 1 Sheffield United
03/08 2022 – Sheffield United 4 – 1 Middlesboro
03/04 2022 – Sheffield United 1 – 1 Nottingham Forest
02/26 2022 – Millwall 1 – 0 Sheffield United
02/23 2022 – Sheffield United 1 – 0 Blackburn
Blackpool – Sheffield United Direct comparison / H2H record
This is the eighth time the two clubs have met in the second English league. So far, the direct comparison is even at 2-3-2.
The match in the first leg of the current season was won by Blackpool FC with 1-0 in Sheffield. Across competitions, it was the Seasiders’ twelfth win in their 39th competitive match with the Blades. However, Blackpool FC have also lost a total of 17 of their 39 matches. The last time was in August 2015, where Sheffield United recorded a 2-0 League One win over Blackpool FC.
Blackpool – Sheffield United bet
Blackpool smells a chance to make the promotion playoffs. However, for that to happen, the Seasiders will need to continue their current winning streak and also win their showdown with Sheffield United. Blackpool FC’s Wednesday opponents currently sit in sixth, and thus final, spot for the promotion playoffs.
With Sheffield United already suffering a crushing defeat to Coventry last week, the next setback for the Blades cannot be ruled out on Wednesday night. Blackpool FC tanked thanks to the current winning streak neat confidence and won anyway in the first leg against Sheffield United.
We therefore do not rule out another win for the Seasiders and see value in the high quotes on an underdog win for the host. Blackpool FC have already won five of their six home games this calendar year. It’s quite possible that the next home win will follow on Wednesday night.
For Blackpool vs Sheffield United, our betting odds of 3.65 are on a win for the home side. We are betting a total of four out of ten possible units for this.
