Sheffield United VS Brighton & Hove Match Prediction
2020-02-22
15:00:00
Sheffield United
VS
Brighton & Hove
Our Prediction Tip
Sheffield United will win this match.
2020-02-2215:00:00 Sheffield United will win this match.
Sheffield United’s 1-0 win at Brighton just before Christmas was their first meeting against the Seagulls since January 2006. Oli McBurnie scored the only goal of the game to make it 13 Sheffield United wins in this fixture, compared to six draws and nine defeats.
Sheffield United continued their charge for European football before the winter break, beating Bournemouth to make it three wins in a row in all competitions.
They remain defensively solid and they are very much still in contention for a top-four place, not just Europa League qualification.
At home especially, they will expect to take all three points against struggling Brighton, who make the trip to the Steel City on the back of a seven-game winless streak.
Both teams will be at virtually full strength for this match and refreshed after their break – though Chris Wilder admitted he would have been happy to play straight through.
Nevertheless, a win at home will ensure they keep their recent momentum going and they will be confident of getting that result.
Graham Potter’s side remain clear of the relegation zone and have lost just one of their last four but it has been their inability to win – something they have not managed in 2020 – that has hampered them.
A lack of goals does not help either, and that is an ominous though as they gear up to face one of the meanest defences in the league.
All in all, Sheffield United are favourites for this game and it would be a surprise if they did not claim all three points to keep their European qualification hopes alive.
Sheffield United are favourites to win at home but can still be backed at an extraordinarily generous best price of evens with Betway.
Their mean defence has been key to their success this season, and betting against both teams to score returns a best price of 20/23 with Betfair.
Sheffield United to win to nil is 2/1 with Bet365, while under 2.5 goals will return 4/6 with Bet365 and Betfair.
Oli McBurnie scored the winner when these teams last met, and he is a best price of 21/10 with Ladbrokes and Betway to score at any time.
Sheffield United’s defensive record, Brighton’s lack of goals and the Blades’ return to form all points to another low-scoring home win.
Sheffield United come out of their winter break with a fully-fit squad at manager Chris Wilder’s disposal. John Lundstram stepped off the bench to score the winner last time out, and could start in midfield this time out – having been displaced by record signing Sander Berge in recent matches.
John Lundstram – Stepped off the bench to score the winning goal at home to Bournemouth last time out to push his case for a recall to the starting XI.
Oli McBurnie – Scored the only goal when these teams last met and looks to have cemented one of the two striker’s places – the area Wilder has tinkered with most this season.
Dean Henderson – Could he be England’s number one at Euro 2020? If the keeper maintains his excellent record for this season, he will certainly be hard to ignore.
Sheffield United have won their last three matches in a row in all competitions. They beat Millwall 2-0 in the FA Cup to get back to winning ways and have since seen off Crystal Palace, courtesy of a comedic own goal, and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. In the latter game, Billy Sharp and John Lundstram scored as the Blades came from behind to win 2-1.
Dale Stephens faces a late fitness test, which if he is passed fit would leave only Jose Izquierdo – who himself is back in training and closing in on a return – on the sidelines.
Neal Maupay – Still looking to end his recent goal drought, but the striker remains Brighton’s top scorer so far this season.
Mat Ryan – Sheffield United do not concede many, so it is imperative the Aussie goalkeeper keeps them out at the other end if Brighton are to get anything from this game.
Aaron Mooy – Will be desperate to avoid a second consecutive relegation from the Premier League and the former Huddersfield man’s midfield form will be key to that.
Brighton are still looking for their first win of 2020, having now gone seven games without victory. They have drawn three of their last four matches, however, including a 1-1 home draw – courtesy of an own goal – in their most recent game before their winter break. Prior to that, they came from 3-1 down as Pascal Gross and Glenn Murray scored late on to earn a 3-3 draw at West Ham.
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