After an inauspicious restart to their Premier League campaign, Sheffield United appear to getting closer to the form which made them the revelation of the season and Chris Wilder an LMA Manager of the Year contender.
Their 3-0 defeat at James’ Park was blighted by uncharacteristic and costly individual mistakes by John Egan and Enda Stevens and there wasn’t too much resilience shown three days later at Old Trafford where they were comfortably defeated 3-0.
However, that appears to have been a blip rather than a downward trend with impressive victories in their last outings at Bramall Lane over Spurs and Wolves last Wednesday. Jack O’Connell’s return to the starting line-up against Wolves was a huge boost as he really makes Wilder’s vaunting overlapping centre-halves strategy pay off.
More footy tips for Saturday:
- Our 3 best bets from Saturday’s busy Championship schedule
- Expect goals galore in the two 12.30pm kick-offs
- Liverpool to continue 100-point chase with Burnley to swept aside at Anfield
- Man City to batter Brighton in seaside slaughter
O’Connell is a superb distributor in possession and is more than comfortable in the opposition third. Meanwhile, his central defensive partner Egan has become a goalscoring sensation as well as being the linchpin of one of the best defensive units in the league.
While John Fleck’s creativity will be missed in midfield, Sheffield United come into this game in a good place and will present a formidable challenge for in-form Chelsea.
A few years ago, I listened to an American soccer podcast discuss who was the greatest US soccer player of all time and there were only two contenders, the less than illustrious duo of Clint ‘Deuce’ Dempsey and Landon Donovan.
While both were above average Premier League level performers, neither were close to world-class and at that moment I felt a little sorry for the US soccer fan that they hadn’t yet found one diamond player in such a vast country.
Well that diamond has now arrived and he is gleaming. Christian Pulisic played with promise before the lockdown period but since play resumed, he has been electric. He has score three goals, won two penalties but more than that, his oozing talent jumps off the TV screen.
However, this may prove a difficult test for him given the way Sheffield United shut down Adama Traore in midweek.
Sheff Utd & Draw double chance
On the whole I feel Chelsea look far too short to trust at 4/7 against quality opposition. There is serious defensive vulnerability in this team which Palace almost exposed late on in midweek and I would expect Sheffield United to score at least once. I think Wilder’s team will frustrate Chelsea and attack and do enough to gain at least a point. Sheffield United & Draw double chance would be my main bet.
John Egan to score anytime
After the week he has had and some of Chelsea’s struggles at set pieces, Think John Egan is worth chancing at a big price to get the three in a row.
Tips for Sheffield United v Chelsea
Sheff Utd & Draw double chance
John Egan to score anytime
More footy tips for Saturday:
- Our 3 best bets from Saturday’s busy Championship schedule
- Expect goals galore in the two 12.30pm kick-offs
- Liverpool to continue 100-point chase with Burnley to swept aside at Anfield
- Man City to batter Brighton in seaside slaughter
Essential weekend reading
- Our 4 Best Bets As Tottenham Host Arsenal In The North London Derby
- Our 17/1 Acca Cracker From 4 Of The Biggest Euro Games On Sunday
- Everton To Cause A Shock Against Wolves As Nuno’s Wheels Start Wobbling