Sheff Utd vs Sheff Wed predictions: Blades can claim bragging rights
- All of the last three Steel City derbies have ended in goalless draws
- Sheffield United have won to nil in all of their last five Championship home games
- Recommended bet: Sheff Utd to win to nil
It has been over five years in the making, but Sunday will finally see old rivals Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday go head-to-head in the Steel City derby at Bramall Lane.
These sides have had contrasting starts to the season, with United currently sitting up in second place in the standings, while Wednesday find themselves down in 15th.
The Blades rallied late on to earn an impressive 2-1 win at Bristol City in their last outing in midweek, while the Owls also earned three points with a 2-0 victory over injury-hit Norwich City at Hillsborough.
There has been no Steel City derby clash since March 2019, but Sunday sees hostilities between these great rivals renewed at Bramall Lane, in what should be a fiercely competitive encounter.
Team news
Injuries have been kind for United in recent weeks, with only midfielders Sai Sachdev and Tom Davies long-term absentees.
As for Wednesday, they have had to cope with a few more injuries, with Olaf Kobacki, Akin Famewo, Michael Ihiekwe, Nathaniel Chalobah and Ben Hamer all set to miss the first Steel City derby of the campaign.
The stats
United have one of the best defences in the Championship this season, conceding just seven goals in their first 14 games.
The Blades are currently on a three-game winning streak after 2-0 wins over Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers, before a 2-1 success at Ashton Gate.
United manager Chris Wilder has seen his side win all of their last five home games in the Championship without conceding a single goal.
Only Plymouth Argyle (25) and Portsmouth (27) have conceded more goals than Wednesday (24) in the league this season.
The Owls have won their last two away games in the Championship, beating both Coventry City and Portsmouth 2-1.
All of the last three Steel City derbies have ended in goalless draws.
Prediction
United’s form of five home wins on the spin without conceding a single goal is impressive and that trend might well continue on Sunday in this highly-anticipated Steel City derby.
Wednesday have been showing signs of improvement in recent weeks, but they continue to leak goals on the road, earning just one clean sheet away from home in the league this season.
This is unlikely to be a one-sided affair but, given their recent form at Bramall Lane, a home win to nil looks to be the way to go in this latest chapter in one of England’s great derbies.
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