Huddersfield vs Sheffield Utd prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-05-03 18:45.
It’s crunch time for Huddersfield who can secure their safety with at least a point against Sheffield United, or else set up a direct shootout for survival on the final day against Reading with defeat. Seventy-four-year-old boss Neil Warnock – who formerly managed Sheffield United – has rolled back the years since coming out of retirement to transform the Yorkshire outfit into a solid side (W5, D4, L4).
The experienced Warnock said that he “always thought it would go down to the last day” but he’s now aiming to secure survival in what is 1617th – and possibly penultimate – game in club management! The omens are strong for Huddersfield to do just that as they’ve put together an impressive four-game unbeaten run at home (W1, D3), the last two of which came against sides still in the promotion shakeup on the final day.
No matter what Sheffield United do now, their promotion via a second-placed finish is set in stone. In any case, Paul Heckingbottom’s men can’t be accused of being on the proverbial beach as they brutally ended Preston’s play-off dream with a 4-1 victory in the game following their own promotion confirmation, so the Blades are looking sharp as ever.
Heckingbottom praised the “mentality” of his side for winning despite celebrating into the early hours after being promoted. Back-to-back trips to the North West have seen Heckingbottom’s men notch a run of over three hours of away play without scoring, so ending their away campaign right here in the White Rose County could stimulate a resurgence.
Players to watch: Jack Rudoni has been one of Huddersfield’s most consistent performers across the last five rounds (G2, A1), scoring twice before half-time in the process. As for United, Iliman Ndiaye can help his side to a first winning league H2H double since 1960/61 if he can build on his assist in the reverse and four goal contributions across the previous four Championship rounds (G2, A2).
Hot stat: Sheffield United have won all four of their away league games against bottom-five opponents via a single-goal margin.