Friday night football is set to be an entertaining one as Sheffield United welcome West Brom. Tom Carnduff has two best bets.
Recommended bets
1pt Oli Norwood to be shown a card at 9/2
1pt David McGoldrick 6+ shots and Harvey Barnes 3+ shots at 15/2
For advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Sheffield United v West Brom (Bramall Lane, 1945 GMT, Sky Sports Football)
It promises to be a highly-entertaining encounter on Friday night as Sheffield United welcome West Brom to Bramall Lane.
These two sides have already demonstrated their attacking talents at various points in the season and there's no reason goals won't again flow despite the magnitude of this game.
The Baggies were also in action on Friday night last week, Jay Rodriguez's controversial late equaliser earning them a point in a 2-2 draw with local rivals Aston Villa.
There were shots galore in that game and the value is in predicting something similar here.
We were one shot on target from Harvey Barnes for a 14/1 winning tip last week, and Alan Hutton's two fantastic last-ditch tackles denied us a winner. No player in the Sky Bet Championship has produced more shots on goal this season and it's worth keeping the faith.
His total of 69 is eight better than Preston's Callum Robinson in second. At a price of 9/4, it is worth considering Barnes to have at least two shots on target in what should be an open game that could go either way.
David McGoldrick also sits high up in the shots taken statistics. His 58 represents the fifth-highest total in the division and siding with him to have six or more shots with Barnes' target set at three makes for a great-value 15/2 chance.
The refereeing appointment here also means that there are appealing prices in the individual player card markets.
Jeremy Simpson has shown a total of 19 yellow cards in his last four Sky Bet EFL games. He is also the third-highest for cards shown in the Championship, only beaten by Sporting Life favourite Peter Bankes and one behind Darren England.
That could spell trouble for someone like Oli Norwood, with the United midfielder sitting in second for fouls committed within Chris Wilder's squad.
He's picked up three yellow cards so far this season, all of which coming in games that have been won by a one-goal margin. This should be a close affair and given the fact he'll be heavily involved in the midfield battle, there is every chance he can catch the referee's attention.
At a best of 9/2 does look generously priced when you factor in his season so far and of course the referee in charge. Anything upwards of 3/1 looks a bet.
Score prediction: Sheffield United 2-2 West Brom (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)
Best bets:
Opta facts
- Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion haven’t met in a league game since January 2010 – a 3-1 win for the Baggies.
- West Brom’s last league win at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United was in February 2004 – current manager Darren Moore scored both an own-goal and goal for the Baggies that day in a 2-1 win.
- Since Sheffield United received three red cards against West Bromwich Albion in a 0-3 home defeat in March 2002, there hasn’t been a red card in any of the last six league games between the sides.
- Leeds United ended Sheffield United’s eight game unbeaten run at home in the league last time out (W5 D3); the Blades haven’t lost successive games at Bramall Lane in the same league season since September 2015.
- West Brom have won each of their last two league games on the road; the Baggies haven’t won three in a row away from home since May 2008 (four games).
- Under current manager Chris Wilder, Billy Sharp has scored in 40 Football League games for Sheffield United (54 goals in total), never ending on the losing side in any of those matches he scored in (W34 D6 L0).
Odds correct as of 1615 GMT on 13/12/18