2020-21 Premier League: Week 26 – Sheffield United vs Aston Villa

Sheffield United welcome Aston Villa to Bramall Lane in midweek action from the Premier League.

Victory will see Chris Wilder’s Blades move to within 12 points of survival, whereas Villa could go eighth for at least 24 hours with a point.

 

Team News

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Sheffield Utd have no fresh injury concerns to report after Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool.

Chris Basham (muscle), Jayden Bogle (shin), John Egan (ankle), Sander Berge (hamstring), Jack Robinson, Jack Rodwell (both unspecified) and Jack O’Connell (knee) are all ruled out.

Villa could be without Emiliano Martinez after the Argentinean suffered a groin injury during Saturday’s win at Leeds United.

Kortney Hause (foot), Jack Grealish (calf), Wesley (knee) and Matty Cash (hamstring) are still ruled out.

 

Stat Attack

• Sheffield Utd have won just one of their nine previous Premier League meetings against Aston Villa (W1, D2, L6).
• Villa have lost just one of four previous Premier League trips to Bramall Lane (W2, D1, L1).
• Both teams have missed one penalty kick apiece in nine previous Premier League meetings.
• Chris Wilder’s Blades have kept just one clean sheet in 12 home league matches this season (W1, D2, L10)
• Villa have kept three clean sheets in six away league games in 2021 (W2, D1, L3).

 

Prediction

Sheffield Utd delivered a decent performance against Liverpool on Sunday but a mixture of wasted shots and sloppy defending eventually cost them, so will certainly be hoping to tighten up their play here.

Villa meanwhile stuck an early winner at Leeds which proved enough after a strong defensive display to weather the hosts’ attacks, whilst delivering scrappy attacks against immense pressure in what was a scrappy competitive game.

I therefore am expecting to see a close contest given the performances of both teams at the weekend, but am going for a Villa win because they seem to have more confidence and penetration about them to get a win and clean sheet with or without Grealish in the team at present.

Prediction: Sheffield United 0-2 Aston Villa

Result: Sheffield United 1-0 Aston Villa