*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Friday night sees a particularly juicy clash gracing our TV screens as Sheffield United welcome Nottingham Forest to Bramall Lane. These two grand old clubs are fighting it out for a playoff place in the Championship with The Blades 7th and their opponents 9th.
The Tricky Trees are three points behind Luton in 6th while United are just one point adrift. It’s a proper bun fight in the second tier with just 10 points separating Bournemouth in 2nd and Coventry in 10th. Vintage Championship.
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The games are ticking away and we’re approaching single-figures remaining. Both of these clubs in action will have 12 left come 10pm on Friday. It’s getting serious, then, and we’re about to see the wheat being separated from the chaff.
These two’s stats are remarkably similar as I’ll outline in a second. It’s a tough one to call so let’s get into your Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest Bet Builder for Friday night.
*A Bet Builder with these four best bets pays at approximately 26/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Friday 7.45pm: Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
The Draw
I can’t separate them so I won’t try. Instead I’ll outline just how eerily alike these two clubs’ numbers are. Settle in. Over their last eight Championship games they’ve both won 17 points of 24 available. They’re separated by just two points in the league and Forest (33) have conceded one fewer goal than United (34) which gives them the 4th and 5th best defences in the division.
Forest have scored just one more goal (45) than The Blades (44) and the pair sit 8th and 9th in the league in that respect. United have taken one more point at home (27) than Forest have on the road this season (26), though Forest have played a game more away from the City Ground.
Both are better away from home and both have 26 points on their travels, again, the 4th and 5th best in the league. They’re pretty poor at home with The Blades having the 13th-best record and Forest the 17th. The smart money here’s on The Draw.
Under 2.5 Goals
I am so tempted to side with Under 1.5 Goals here but I’ll play it a little safer and plump for Under 2.5 Goals so we’re covered for the 0-0 and the 1-1. This is a punt that’s landed in seven of Sheffield United’s last nine Championship matches.
For Forest it’s come off in six of their last 10 matches in the second tier. With both having super defences and middling attacks we should see the former on top and Under 2.5 Goals.
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Brennan Johnson to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
Brennan Johnson’s stock continues to rise and the attacking midfielder is now Forest’s 2nd-top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions behind Lewis Grabban on 13. The 20-year-old continues to impress and you get the feeling he’ll be in the top flight next season, whether that’s with Forest or not.
He’s had 46 shots this season with just under 25% of those finding the net. He’s averaging around 0.75 shots on target per match but he’s in flying form and sky-high confidence. He’s scored in three of his last four so I don’t think we’re asking too much for Brennan Johnson to Have 1 or More Shots on Target here.
Sheffield United to Have Over 5.5 Corners
Sheffield United don’t generally see loads of corners in games they play with a combed for an against tally of 8.2 per match over their last five home games. They’ve had 5.6 per match over that run.
However, Forest give away a fair few and have had an average 6.4 against in their last five on the road, including 11 on their last away day. United have failed to have five or more corners in their last five home games on just one occasion so I think there’s a decent chance United cross the Over 5.5 Corners marker again here.
Under 11.5 Corners
On the flip side of this, The Blades give away very few corners on home soil. Over their last five it’s been just 2.6 per match with a high of 5 last time out. Forest have had 4.8 per game over the same timeframe but just nine in their last three.
Combined, over each side’s respective last five home and away matches, there’s been an accumulated 9.7 corners for and against per match. Because I think it’s got a great chance, and to bolt on a little bit of extra value, Under 11.5 Corners looks a pretty good play.
Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest tips
The Draw
Under 2.5 Goals
Brennan Johnson to Have 1 or More Shots on Target
Sheffield United to Have Over 5.5 Corners
Under 11.5 Corners
*A Bet Builder with these four best bets pays at approximately 26/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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