Sunderland vs Sheffield Utd prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-03-14 20:00.
After three consecutive losses in the Championship, Sunderland bounced back with an all-important 1-0 win away to fellow play-off contenders Norwich last weekend, despite holding just 28% ball possession! The Black Cats now find themselves just five points adrift of Championship top-six, with coach Tony Mowbray praising summer signing Jack Clarke after the game, saying that it was his “best performance since I’ve been here".
That victory did highlight Sunderland’s offensive deficiencies since their top scorer Ross Stewart got injured in late January, as they’ve managed to score 2+ goals only once across their following eight league outings. Things are no better on the other side of the pitch, with their 43 goals conceded the most amongst top-half sides at the end of last round, but things could be different this time after managing five clean sheets across the last six H2Hs at Stadium of Light.
Visitors Sheffield United are now looking to secure their position inside the automatic promotion places, as despite winning three of their last five Championship outings (L2) they start the round just four points clear of Middlesbrough in third. Scoring first has been vital recently, with the Blades’ previous five Championship matches featuring a 1-0 scoreline either way, and coach Paul Heckingbottom expressed his frustration after their home loss on Saturday, stating “we have to look at ourselves” as they conceded from Luton’s only shot on target.
Their away form could help fire them to return to the top-flight after only a two-year absence, considering the Blades sit joint-third of the ten-game away form standings (W6, D2, L2), but the fact they’ve conceded first within the opening six minutes in two (L2) of the last three will concern Heckingbottom. The omens look good for United on the H2H front too, squaring off against a Sunderland side against whom they’ve beaten in the last three league H2Hs.
Players to watch: Sunderland’s Clarke has scored six of his seven second-tier goals in 2022/23 after half-time, while Iliman Ndiaye has contributed to more away goals this Championship campaign than any other United player (G4, A5).
Hot stat: Sunderland have lost 11 points after the 75th minute – the division’s second-worst total.