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With international football taking place around the world and the Premier League having a week off, all eyes will be on the Championship this weekend. And the Saturday evening fixture features two teams with very different ambitions this season.
Peterborough are second favourites in Paddy’s relegation market, while Sheffield United are third favourites to win the play-offs. As these two were in League One and the top flight respectively last season, that’s no surprise.
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Their last meeting, back in September, certainly showed a big difference between the sides. Despite the fact it was 1-1 at half time, the Blades ran riot after the break and won 6-2. What the hell was in their half time oranges?
Whatever it was, it certainly worked as it gave Sheffield United their one win by more than two goals this season, and one of only two four-goal defeats for Peterborough. People tuning into this match will be hoping for another goal-fest.
Saturday 5.30pm: Peterborough v Sheffield United
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
*A Bet Builder with these four best bets pays at approximately 24/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Sheffield United to win
While they’ve stumbled a little recently, the visitors are in much the better form of the two teams. Paul Heckingbottom’s side put together a four-game winning run in late November and early December – only three teams in the notoriously tough Championship have had lengthier streaks this season – and would have won six of their last seven had they not contrived to throw away a 2-0 lead against 10-man Preston.
But never mind six from seven, Darren Ferguson would be happy to see his Posh boys pick up a sixth win of the season, after they too wasted a two-goal advantage when drawing at Birmingham in midweek. Fergie junior has seen his side win just one of their last 12 Championship matches.
United might have stolen their recent 1-0 win at Fulham (they only had two shots, both from long-range) but their performances on the road have generally been decent. Four of their five away wins have come against sides currently in the bottom six so Sheffield United should win here.
Under 2.5 goals
Peterborough might have conceded the most goals in the division but a lot of the damage has been done on the road. You might recall a certain 6-2 loss I mentioned a few paragraphs back?
At home they’ve been reasonably solid, only allowing 15 opposition goals in 12 matches, and just one of their four defeats at the Weston Homes Stadium has been by more than one. It’s a similar story in reverse for the Blades on the road – four one-goal wins from five victories – so there won’t be much in this. Under 2.5 goals looks to be the order of the day.
Under 9.5 corners
Whatever goals are scored are unlikely to come from set plays, as these sides have bagged just seven goals between them from set piece situations. Peterborough at least have the excuse that they don’t have many corners, with the Posh averaging fewer than four per game in 2021/22, the second fewest in the Championship.
And while United have plenty of their own they don’t allow their opponents many, meaning their matches have seen an average of 9.5 corners each. With the home side here a shade below that and only four of their games on their patch seeing more than 10 corners this season, we’ll take the Under 9.5 Corners for our Bet Builder.
Under 2.5 cards
Here’s one for Only Connect fans (not Only Fans, that’s somewhat different): What do Kelle Roos, Sean Morrison, Andrew Hughes and Reece Burke have in common? Any Blades fans reading this will know that they have all been sent off against their side this season, with the last three occurring in United’s last five Championship matches. It’s the joint-most reds shown to a team’s opponents in the division this term.
It says plenty for the Championship that they’re below average for Card Index points despite all that red on their record. In their previous meeting with Peterborough there were just two yellow cards shown and this match should pan out in similar fashion. Referee Dean Whitestone averages the fewest yellow cards per Championship game this season (among refs who’ve done more than five matches) so he can help round off our bet by keeping his cards firmly in his pocket and showing Under 2.5.
Peterborough v Sheff Utd tips
Sheffield United to Win
Under 2.5 Goals
Under 9.5 corners
Under 2.5 cards
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