Will promoted Sunderland go away empty-handed for the first time?

Sunderland is a real household name to many football fans around the world. Not only because of many successful years in England’s top division, but also because of the successful documentary “Sunderland til I die”, in which an interesting insight into the inner life of the club was created. At the time of the documentary, however, the “Black Cats” were still in the third division. In the meantime, the traditional club has at least realised its return to the Championship.

In the fourth matchday of England’s second division, coach Alex Neil’s team now travels to Bramall Lane, the oldest stadium in the world where professional football is still played. Ahead of the Sheffield United v Sunderland match, lower odds are being offered on the home win. The ambitious Blades are therefore being put in the favourites’ role and this despite the fact that the visitors have managed to register one point more so far in the still young season.

The home side have recently recorded four points from two games after an opening defeat, while the promoted side have even gone without a defeat. In the clash between the ninth and sixth-placed team in the table, one can also expect a goal or two, as both teams have not lacked attacking power so far. It may even be an option to place a combined bet on the outcome of the match between Sheffield United and Sunderland, including the number of goals scored.

Sheffield United – Statistics & current form

From 2019 to 2021, Sheffield United were allowed to compete in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons. However, after a stellar first year that ended in ninth place without any relegation worries, the Blades couldn’t get a leg up in the following season and had to take the bitter step back into the second division as bottom-placed teams. The attempt to achieve immediate promotion in 2021/22 also failed in the play-offs. In the semi-finals, Sheffield lost out to Nottingham Forest, who were later promoted, after a first leg and a second leg.

Coach Paul Heckingbottom’s team has set its sights high again for the new season. At best, they want to attack the direct promotion places or at least reach the play-offs once again. However, the start to the new season was average. Four points are on the books after three days of play.

Sheffield United are hard to beat at home

Relative of this not entirely satisfactory result, however, is the fact that perhaps the most difficult away game was at Watford on the very first matchday, where they lost 1-0. They then beat Millwall at home (2:0) and drew at Middlesbrough (2:2).

Especially in front of a home crowd, the red-white-blacks are extremely strong. In the pre-season, they won 13 home games. In addition, Heckingbottom’s team had the best home defence in the Championship, conceding only 15 goals in 23 games at Bramall Lane.

Six of the last eight home games in England’s second division have been won during the regular season. On seven occasions, the clean sheet has even been maintained. Reason enough to think hard about a prediction for a home win on Wednesday evening between Sheffield United and Sunderland. With a view to the four goals already scored, a bet on over 2.5 goals cannot be ruled out.

Predicted Sheffield United line-up:
Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Norrington-Davies; Baldock, Norwood, Doyle, Lowe; Berge, Ndiaye; Brewster

Last matches played by Sheffield United:

Championship
14/08/2022 – Middlesboro 2 – 2 Sheffield United

Carabao Cup
12/08/2022 – West Bromwich 1 – 0 Sheffield United

Championship
06/08/2022 – Sheffield United 2 – 0 Millwall

02/08/2022 – Watford 1 – 0 Sheffield United

Friendly club matches
23/07/2022 – Barnsley 2 – 1 Sheffield United

Sunderland – Statistics & current form

With Sunderland, a piece of English football culture has returned to the second division. After a total of four bitter years in League One, the Black Cats, who were even still active in the Premier League in 2016/17, but were subsequently pushed through after two relegations to the third division, were finally able to celebrate the longed-for promotion, although this “only” came about via the playoffs.

This was one of the reasons why the team from the north-east of England was considered a potential candidate for relegation in the run-up to this season. At least after three match days, coach Alex Neil’s team has been more convincing than expected so far. Sunderland are one of seven clubs still unbeaten. A win at Bristol City (3:2) is offset by two draws at home against Coventry City (1:1) and Queens Park Rangers (2:2).

Sunderland have squandered a lead in all their games

Striking: In all three matches played, both teams scored. With six goals scored, the Black Cats even lead the offensive ranking of the league. However, the five goals conceded are only surpassed by three other clubs. Because there has been a lot of spectacle in the AFC games so far, it is quite conceivable to take a closer look at the odds for a relatively high-scoring clash between Sheffield United and Sunderland.

What could prove to be a problem for the upcoming away game at Bramall Lane, however, is the fact that Neil’s side have squandered an interim lead in all three of the aforementioned matches. At the weekend, they were even 2-0 up against QPR, but ultimately had to settle for the draw. So, if the former first division team doesn’t start a match in the best possible way, they are threatened with their first defeat.

We should not let ourselves be blinded by our currently even better position in the table and the unbeaten start to the season. Given the difference in quality and the Blades’ home advantage, the underdog role of the promoted team is definitely understandable.

Predicted line-up of Sunderland:
Patterson; O’Nien, Batth, Cirkin; Gooch, Neil, Evans, Clarke; Pritchard; Stewart, Simms

Last matches played by Sunderland:

Championship
13/08/2022 – Sunderland 2 – 2 Queens Park Rangers

Carabao Cup
11/08/2022 – Sheffield Wednesday 2 – 0 Sunderland

Championship
06/08/2022 – Bristol City 2 – 3 Sunderland

31/07/2022 – Sunderland 1 – 1 Coventry

Club Friendlies
26/07/2022 – Hartlepool 1 – 1 Sunderland

Sheffield United – Sunderland Direct comparison / H2H record

These two clubs have faced each other 96 times in England’s top football league alone. The Blades celebrated 29 of the 37 victories in front of their home crowd. They also have a good home record against the Black Cats in the Championship (8-3-5).

However, considering that the last direct league encounter dates back to the joint second division season of 2017/18 and is therefore several years in the past, the head-to-head record can be safely disregarded. Nor should the 2019 League Cup match, which Sunderland won 1-0 at Bramall Lane as the classier side, be used as a blueprint.

Sheffield United – Sunderland Tip

Two old English football clubs with great tradition and numerous first-team years together face each other in the second-tier Championship for the first time since 2017. Although it is only a matchday four encounter, the stakes are already high for both clubs.

The Blades are desperate for a second home win and a move up the table after just one win from their opening three games, while the Black Cats are keen to continue their unbeaten run. The fact that Sheffield United are still favoured against Sunderland according to the betting odds is primarily due to the home bonus and the qualitative advantages.

Sheffield have not only won six of their last eight league home games, but have also gone seven of those eight games without conceding a goal. In 2021/22, there was no other club in the Championship that conceded fewer goals at home than Heckingbottom’s eleven. The visitors, on the other hand, have squandered leads in all three games so far and thus lost confidence.

That’s why we are betting on a home win in the Sheffield United vs Sunderland clash. The best odds on the three-way market of 1.78 are currently offered by the tested bookmaker Betano. It can also be advisable to combine the targeted home win with the over 1.5 to let the corresponding quotes turn out a little higher. For both of these bets, we would use six out of ten notional units.