Swansea vs Sheffield Utd prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2022-09-12 18:45.
While they’ll have joined the rest of the UK in mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Swansea City players might have privately appreciated the extra rest after manager Russell Martin said his squad was full of “tired legs” after spending “over 24 hours on a bus” for recent trips to Middlesbrough and Stoke City. The Welsh side responded well to beat QPR 1-0 last time out though, ending the matchday one point clear of the Championship relegation zone.
The Swans are likely boosted by a successful conclusion to the transfer window, loaning in three players from Premier League clubs and keeping hold of forwards Joël Piroe and Michael Obafemi. They have struggled at home recently however, with that victory over QPR their first in the league here since early April (D4, L3) in a result which also represented their first Championship shutout in nine home attempts.
Sheffield United will hope to cause further damage to Swansea’s home record, as they’re now seven Championship games unbeaten (W5, D2) following a 2-0 win over Hull City, topping the table after matchday eight as a result. With clean sheets in three of their last four league matches (W3, D1), they should be hard to break down as their bid for promotion gathers pace.
However, that victory over Hull was their first clean sheet on the road in the league since mid-March (W2, D3, L2) so the Blades haven’t been cutting through sides away from home. A lengthy injury list hasn’t helped Sheffield United recently, so news that striker Billy Sharp is training again and could feature for the first time since mid-August is welcome, as the visitors aim for successive away Championship victories for the first time since February.
Players to watch: Swansea’s Piroe and Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie have both scored in each of their sides’ last three Championship games, both of them also twice opening the scoring within the first 25 minutes!
Hot stat: Swansea’s first home game after the last time a Prince of Wales acceded to the throne (January 1936) saw them beat a Yorkshire side (Doncaster) 2-0.