Sheffield Utd vs Middlesbrough prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2023-02-14 20:00.
Itâs now 13 games unbeaten for Sheffield United who dismantled Swansea 3-0 at the weekend. That run has seen them into the last 16 of the FA Cup and move ten points clear of third-placed Middlesbrough, with a game in hand to boot. It would take a monumental collapse for United to be reeled in now, but a win in this promotion âsix-pointerâ would still be a huge result for Paul Heckingbottomâs men.
Heckingbottom remained coy on whether Nigerian billionaire Dozy Mmobuosi would be buying a Premier League club when stating âweâll hopefully accumulate enough pointsâ for promotion. Encouragingly, United havenât lost a home H2H with Boro in over a decade, and that 2011 loss is their only one here in fixtures between these two since 1987 (W8, D2, L1)!
As for the visitors, Michael Carrick is making a good fist of it in his first managerial job and will hope to be the man to finally blunt the Blades. For the reasons stated, this is a âmust winâ for Boro if theyâre to retain any slim hopes of gatecrashing the top-two, and picking up 21 of the last 24 available suggests theyâll certainly hold their own (W7, L1).
No Championship side has scored more than Boroâs 31 goals since Carrickâs first game in charge after a 3-1 win in Cardiff over the weekend strengthened their foothold in the top-six. Playing away shouldnât faze Carrickâs men either, as only two host sides since the start of November have managed to take anything from them (W6, L2), despite Boroâs measly return of just one clean sheet during that run.
Players to watch: Nordic talents could rule the day! It took only a few minutes for Sheffield Unitedâs Norwegian forward Sander Berge to score in the reverse, meaning Boro are the only side that heâs scored against both at home and away. Looking to outdo him will be Boroâs Finnish finisher Marcus Forss, who has made his presence felt with a return of three goal contributions across his last four away appearances (G2, A1).
Hot stat: Sheffield United are one of only three Championship sides yet to lose when taking a lead at any stage (W18, D3).