Who will hold their nerve in the chasing duel?
Sheffield United are currently in the chasing pack in the English Championship and are still aiming for the play-offs for promotion to the Premier League. The same applies to the guests from Nottingham. That is why this match could be quite exciting.
In the run-up to the Sheffield United vs Nottingham match, the odds indicate a slight advantage for the hosts. However, the differences between the two teams should not be too great, which is why an exciting match can be expected.
If the hosts win, they will succeed in distancing Nottingham. A win for the visitors would see them leapfrog Sheffield United in the table. The game kicks off at 20:45 on Friday.
Sheffield United – Statistics & current form
Currently Sheffield United are in seventh place in the Championship, moving forward a lot is still possible. Sixth place, which entitles them to the play-offs, is just one point away and even second place is only eight points away, although Bournemouth still have two games in hand. What Sheffield United need in the coming weeks are consistent performances. Because Preston, currently in twelfth place, are also only six points behind.
This means that, depending on the series, it can quickly tip in one direction or the other. In general, however, a positive trend is emerging. Sheffield United have played decent football in recent weeks, losing only one of their last ten competitive matches. This has enabled the hosts to gradually work their way up to the play-off places. However, they just lost their last match away at Millwall FC.
So a reaction is needed. A major part of the solid season has been the equally solid defence. The Blades have conceded 34 goals in 33 games so far, only eleven of them at home. That’s why, ahead of Sheffield United’s game against Nottingham, our prediction is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored.
The hosts have improved defensively over the course of the season
Underpinning this once again is the last few weeks. Sheffield United have won six of their last eight league games. This record is quite impressive, but must be maintained, because the hosts are not a team with an all-round dangerous attack, even if 44 goals are not a very bad value.
The truth is, however, that apart from Sharp (12) and Gibbs-White (7), no player has more than three league goals to his name. At home, if you look at the season as a whole, things look pretty good. Sheffield United have an average of 1.8 points at home, compared to 1.44 away from home. Surprisingly, the last home defeat was against Blackpool FC at the end of October.
So the form curve is pointing upwards, the defence has done its job more than conscientiously in recent weeks. For this reason, our value tip before the Sheffield United vs. Nottingham match is that not both teams will score goals.
Predicted Sheffield United line-up:
Davies – Egan, Davies, Basham – Bogle, Berge, Gibbs-White, Hourihane, Robinson – McBurnie, Goldrick
Last matches played by Sheffield United:
Championship
02/26 2022 – Millwall 1 – 0 Sheffield United
02/23 2022 – Sheffield United 1 – 0 Blackburn
02/19 2022 – Sheffield United 4 – 0 Swansea
02/15 2022 – Sheffield United 0 – 0 Hull
02/12 2022 – Huddersfield 0 – 0 Sheffield United
Nottingham – Statistics & current form
Nottingham are currently just two points behind Sheffield United in ninth place in the Championship table. The team of coach Steve Cooper also defeated Bristol 2-0 in their last match, which was an important victory. Just like the hosts, Cooper’s side will play with a three-man backline and a massive midfield. This could make for an exciting and even game.
With one defeat from the last ten games, the tendency looks really good for Nottingham as well. This team has also been able to improve over the course of the season and is now thrilling its fans. The highlight of this series was the FA Cup win against Arsenal, where the team played with the necessary conviction. Defensively and offensively, there is hardly any difference to the hosts.
In contrast to Sheffield United, however, Nottingham have so far been able to pick up proportionally more points away from home. Here, the points average in the league is 1.63, at home it is 1.47. Neither balance sheet ensures that they are particularly impressive, but many clubs in the second highest English division have problems with consistency, which is why the battle for the play-off places is so open.
Nottingham want to get past Sheffield
Although the season still has a few games in store, Nottingham cannot afford to drop much in direct duels with teams also fighting for a place in the play-offs. A defeat in Sheffield would further complicate the situation, and in the next few weeks the table will also give a clear picture again in terms of matches, as the catch-up games should be settled shortly.
An advantage for Nottingham could be the good goal difference. After Fulham and Bournemouth, the first two teams in the Championship, Nottingham together with Blackburn have the best goal difference of the chasing teams. If they can still make up places, then this tends to improve as well. And: Only two teams have a better defence than the visitors.
The reference to the good defence brings us back to this game. Ahead of the Sheffield United vs Nottingham game, our tip is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored.
Predicted line-up of Nottingham:
Horvath – Mbe Soh, McKenna, Worrall – Spence, Garner, Colback, Lowe – Zinckernagel – Xande Silva, Johnson
Last Nottingham games:
Championship
02/26 2022 – Nottingham Forest 2 – 0 Bristol City
02/22 2022 – Preston 0 – 0 Nottingham Forest
02/12 2022 – Nottingham Forest 2 – 2 Stoke
02/09 2022 – Blackburn 0 – 2 Nottingham Forest
FA Cup
02/06 2022 – Nottingham Forest 4 – 1 Leicester
Sheffield United – Nottingham Direct comparison / H2H record
Sheffield United have won 43 of their 119 meetings with Nottingham Forest, while the visitors have won 45. The comparison is completed with 31 draws. The two sides met for the first time this season on matchday 16, when they drew 1-1. In their last five games, Nottingham have won twice and Sheffield have won once.
Sheffield United – Nottingham Tip
Sheffield United have improved over the course of the season, the same can be said about Nottingham. Both are defensively quite stable and offensively always good for a goal. Excitement is on the cards!
Because of the really good compactness on both sides, our tip before the match Sheffield United vs Nottingham is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored.
