2018-19 Sky Bet Championship: Week 20 – Saturday

This weekend’s blockbuster clash in Sky Bet Championship sees promotion rivals, Sheffield United and Leeds go head to head at Bramall Lane. 

Victory for the Blades would send them into automatic spots ahead of the 3pm games whilst Leeds can move top with a point. 

 

Team news

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Sheffield United could hand defender, George Baldock a recall after he recovered from illness which kept him out of midweek action. 

Leeds will hand Pontus Jansson a late fitness test as he continues his comeback from a foot injury. 

Luke Ayling, Izzy Brown and Patrick Bamford all remain absent with knee injuries whilst Gaetano Berardi is still out with a hamstring issue. 

 

Form

Sheffield United have lost two of their last seven whilst taking just a single clean sheet in that period. 

At home, the Blades have avoided defeat in last eight since losing 2-1 to Swansea on opening weekend. They however have kept only three shutouts with two of those being goalless draws. 

Leeds are in same form but have kept clean sheets in last two outings as well as against Ipswich in late October, making it three shutouts in that period compared to the Blades’ one. 

On their away travels, Leeds have lost two of last three and kept just one clean sheet in last six. Pablo Hernandez meanwhile have netted in both of the Whites’ last two away matches. 

 

Stat Attack

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in four of last five against Leeds (W3, D1, L1), winning the last three meetings including a pair of 2-1 wins last season.
• At home, Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last eight against Leeds stretching back to April 1993. 
• Billy Sharp scored three goals for Sheffield United across both meetings last season. 
• All of Leeds’ goals in last three league outings have come in second half. 
• Leeds are unbeaten against their first two Yorkshire derbies this season, winning at home to Rotherham and drawing at Sheffield Wednesday (W1, D1). 

 

Prediction

With both teams in similar form, we should have an open game and given the Blades’ home form and liking for high scores, I am going for a high score draw. 

Prediction: Sheffield United 2-2 Leeds United