*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
There’s nothing worse than having to wait for your side to take to the field long after everyone else. Monday night football is great for the neutrals but, for Watford and Sheffield United fans, the weekend would have taken an age.
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These two recently-relegated sides from the top flight meet at Vicarage Road on Monday night having been able to sit back and watch the first weekend of the 2022/23 EFL season unfold in front of them. But the long wait is finally over and this should be a good clash between two sides who, I think, will be right in the mix as the season heats up.
Watford finished 19th in the top flight last term while The Blades were 5th in the Championship and lost to Nottingham Forest on penalties in the playoff semi finals. It’s two decent sides who will be absolutely champing at the bit to get going. So, without further ado, let’s get stuck in with a Bet Builder for Monday’s match.
*A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 21/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Monday 8pm: Watford v Sheffield United
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
Watford to Win
While I expect Untied to be mixing it towards the top of the table come the end of the season, I just think Watford will have too much quality for them here. There’s plenty of other factors at play as well, not least the relief from the Hornets’ players that they might be able to enjoy themselves a bit this season rather than expecting routine beatings.
I think they’ll come flying out of the blocks, knowing that they are one of the league’s bigger kids rather than just another whipping boy. There’s the home factor to throw into the pot as well and, while they were shocking in front of their own fans last season, it’s a different kettle of fish this time around.
They’ll be looking to make amends for the last campaign which saw them take just eight points from 19 games at Vicarage Road. New manger Rob Edwards has had the novelty of a full pre-season with this squad and I think the most likely outcome here is a Watford Win.
Over 2.5 Goals
The point is that Watford have some very good attacking talents at their disposal, even if the defence is maybe a bit lacking. Emmanuel Dennis got double figures in the top flight last term and they’ve managed to hang on to Ismaila Sarr, who was widely expected to be departing the club after their relegation.
Joao Pedro is another year older and will have benefited massively from his Premier League experience. He’s back for another crack at The Championship and bagged nine goals at this level seasons ago as an 18-year-old. The Blades, for their part, have seen Over 2.5 Goals in each of their last four games, including those heart-breaking semi finals against Forest.
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Both Teams To Score
All of this adds up to both teams scoring here. United scored in each of their last seven games last season but they also conceded in five of those as well. Form lines are hard to figure out with Watford as they were just trying to get on the beach as quickly as possible towards the end of last season.
For the record they conceded in 11 of their final 12 in the top flight. They did manage to net in seven of those though which tells you exactly where their main problem lay. Those numbers are enough to lead me to think we’re in line for Both Teams To Score in this one.
Emmanuel Dennis to Score First
When perusing the markets for a goal scorer the difference in class that each squad possesses is quite stark. United are full of the hard-working, but unspectacular players you already know and love like Oli McBurnie and John Fleck while Watford have forwards who posses a sprinkling of stardust like the aforementioned Dennis, Sarr and Pedro.
The player that sticks out for me here is Emmanuel Dennis. He bagged 10 in the Premier League last season and those numbers alone tell me he should rip it up this time around if he stays for the full campaign. If he is still at Watford on Monday I’ll take Dennis to Score First.
Watford v Sheffield United tips
Watford to Win
Over 2.5 Goals
Both Teams To Score
Emmanuel Dennis to Score First
*A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately 21/1 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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