*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
I love this derby.
Mainly because Leeds fans during a derby are some of the most creative, over-the-top abuse-hurlers you could ever dream of stumbling upon. And I can only applaud them for it.
If you think Marching On Together lacks spark, just remember that Sheffield United sing a John Denver song about a chip butty before kickoff.
You can always tell a matchup is a proper derby when the respective supporters take more joy in the other side losing than they do in their own team winning it – and now that Leeds fans are missing out on cheering Sheffield United’s impending relegation to the Championship, this really does lose its oomph.
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However, that’s not to discredit the fixture as important. Leeds, for all their glorious inconsistency, are just a point shy of the magic figure of 40 – and just three points off Arsenal. Now, while the fortunes of the north London outfit are about as solid a standard as Wayne Rooney’s taste in classic literature, it would be seen as a huge stepping stone and a rationale to ownership about investing in first-team recruitment.
Sheffield United? Well, look – they should be happy they’re outside mid-pandemic.
Here’s your three best bets for this would-be cracker of a Yorkshire derby.
Safe Bet: Leeds to Win
I normally sit down and try to find some clever insight into how teams operate against sides who play certain formations, how they differ between home and away stylistically or a dissonance between performances under certain circumstances.
But with Leeds, you’d need a blackboard the size of Elland Road, a maths degree from MIT and a lot of spare time away from your better half.
Saturday, 3pm: Leeds United v Sheffield United
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At the end of the day, Leeds are better at football than Sheffield United, the Blades’ motivation is nullified and they’re under a new regime that doesn’t feel remotely long-term, so there’ll be a lack of buy-in.
Also, Enda Stevens is coming back from a defeat to Luxembourg.
Sorry, just had to get that in there.
Value Punt: Patrick Bamford to Score Last
I quite like the idea of Patrick Bamford going up against a back three for a couple of reasons.
The first being that he’s quite good at getting a marker booked, but secondly because he can float in and around those spaces when a team just starts defending deep late in a game.
This exact thing happened earlier in the year when Leeds struck late because he peeled into space and headed home.
I could see it happening again.
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Long Shot: Leeds to Come From Behind and Win
They’ve changed their approach in recent times – finding goals later in games than they had done earlier in the season and a lot of that is down to their relaxation mid-game and not needing to operate at a million miles an hour.
I’ve got absolutely no doubt that Leeds can score a couple of goals here, nor do I have any confidence in Sheffield United being focused enough to hold onto three points if they go ahead. It’s just the idea of them actually leading at any stage is the issue.
But at the price, it’s worth a punt isn’t it?
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
Leeds v Sheffield United bet summary – Saturday, April 3
Safe Bet: Leeds to Win
Value Punt: Patrick Bamford to Score Last
Long Shot: Leeds to Come From Behind and Win
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