Sheffield Utd vs Millwall prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2022-08-05 14:00.
A tight 1-0 loss to Watford wasn't how Sheffield United hoped to start their Championship season, but seven losses in their last nine league season openers suggests the Blades aren't known for sharp starts. With last season's play-off heartbreak still fresh in the mind, United certainly won’t want to start the league campaign with consecutive losses fourth time across the last nine seasons.
Ominously, the Bramall Lane faithful have seen Sheffield United lose the first home league game in three of the last four campaigns after losing only three of the 27 such matches prior. Any lingering nerves amongst the fanbase may be settled by a strong defensive display as seen in five of their last six home league matches, but just two clean sheets in the last 16 home matches against Millwall – and no wins in the last six Championship H2H clashes here (D4, L2) – suggests that may not come easily.
Millwall also require a turnaround of their own after a loss to League One side Cambridge United in the Carabao Cup tapered down the excitement of a 2-0 season opening win against Stoke City. The visitors will now target instant redemption as their main aim for the campaign remains to secure a top-six finish having narrowly missed out last season.
Travelling stronger could be crucial for those hopes, as only seven Championship clubs picked up fewer away points than the Lions 24 last season. There's enough encouragement to change that narrative here as Millwall completed a H2H league double last season and now go in search of posting successive away league H2H wins for the first time since 1981.
Players to watch: United's Billy Sharp will be looking to set his record straight having previously seen just one of his five goals against Millwall come in wins. Visiting defender Jake Cooper has a taste for goals against the Blades, scoring a personal-high five goals in six Championship H2Hs including winners in both matches last season!
Hot stat: United picked up the first card in eight of the last ten H2Hs.