West Brom v Sheff Utd: Free football betting tips - Slaven Bilic and Chris Wilder meet in Sack Race showdown

It's no surprise then, that ahead of the weekend, Slaven Bilic and Chris Wilder topped the Sack Race betting.

Both began the campaign with credit in the bank. Bilic led Albion to promotion from the Sky Bet Championship in his first season in charge, and Wilder is close to untouchable at Bramall Lane.

Since 2016, the boyhood Blades fan has performed minor miracles to take them from third-tier also-rans to a 10th-placed Premier League finish last term.

But football is nothing if not brutal.

During the first international break I pinpointed Wilder (25/1) and Bilic (11/1) as the men to back in the next Premier League manager to leave market.

By no means am I advocating for someone to lose their job when I say this, but I hope you took that advice. At a general offering of 3/1 and 9/4 respectively now, that value has long since gone.

Bilic has been in this perilous position before, when he and Fulham's Scott Parker were cut adrift before their showdown meeting last month.

West Brom's lacklustre 2-0 defeat, and the Croatian's public criticism of the Albion hierarchy in the days before the game, saw his price initially shorten sharply. It did drift though, as focus turned to Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

However, two further defeats have seen Bilic retake the favourite tag.

Premier League Sack Race odds

• Slaven Bilic - 9/4
• Chris Wilder - 3/1
• Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - 7/2
• Scott Parker - 5/1

Click here for the full current Sky Bet market

Odds correct at 18:00 GMT (26/11/20)

Bilic: A test of characters

When asked about the pressure mounting on him and his players, Bilic said: “It’s not easy but when the going gets tough, the tough get going. This is a test for characters.

"It’s not easy to stay calm and positive. Maybe some people who don’t see inside are surprised I’m this positive.

"It’s about time to get the results as well, that's why we have those positive moods at the training ground.

“For both teams, they are going to look at it as a good opportunity to get the first win and hopefully turn the page.

“It’s not like we are miles away from the result but on the other hand it means nothing because we have do it.

"We have to turn them into results. It’s about time to do that.”

West Brom v Sheff Utd betting preview

• 20:00 GMT on Sky Sports Main Event
• Match odds: Home 8/5 | Draw 21/10 | Away 9/5

Tom Carnduff

Committing to a result is tough but one bet that does stand out is Conor Gallagher to be shown a card at 7/2. He already has two on his tally this season and is heavily involved when it comes to tackles and fouls.

The Chelsea loanee has seen an average of 4.2 tackles per game in his five appearances for the Baggies so far while the foul average over the same period sits at 2.4. This game could best be compared to West Brom's meeting with Fulham - Gallagher had five fouls there and was shown a card.

We shouldn't expect to see loads of cards but Mike Dean's appointment as referee should bring a few. Six of his seven games this season have had 30+ booking points and we could expect the figure to sit around the 30 mark here. In a tight game, which could go either way, it could become scrappy with neither wanting to make a mistake and that should bring fouls.

It feels like a game where the single goal decides it and, while West Brom might edge it, under 1.5 goals at 2/1 looks a better outright option than either of the two prices available on a win. Instead, the best value comes in the 7/2 available on Gallagher to be booked.

Score prediction: West Brom 1-0 Sheff Utd (Sky Bet odds: 6/1)

Best bet: Conor Gallagher to be shown a card at 7/2

Click to read Tom Carnduff's preview in full

This game is huge for both clubs, and both managers. But it's far from a meeting of two teams in terrible form.

Albion's recent 1-0 losses to Tottenham and Manchester United were unlucky. The first came via a late goal, and the second in contentious circumstances. They held their own against two of the Premier League's biggest hitters.

Sheffield United have simply been on the wrong side of tight games; last term they were specialists in squeezing three points out of such contests.

They've lost eight league games this term - six by a single goal. Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Wolves account for more than half those, teams who ought to be in the top eight come the end of the season.

The biggest issue for the Baggies and the Blades has been a lack of goals, with just six and four respectively.

Where Wilder comes under greater pressure is with his recruitment, which up until this summer had been close to flawless. But a club-record £23m was splashed out on Rhian Brewster, with the former Liverpool striker talked up as the man to provide the goals; he has looked completely lost.

Sheffield United are now winless in 13 matches in all competitions, any win will do. If you don't score, you don't win. They simply have to find some kind of formula to start hitting the back of the net.

Five goals in 10 games all season is truly appalling.

Albion are no better. Three of their efforts came in a madcap opening half against Chelsea, so they've managed only three goals in the remaining eight-and-a-half league games.

But at least £15m man Karlan Grant has found the net since joining from Huddersfield, and likewise Grady Diangana after the club spent £18m to make his loan deal from West Ham permanent.

Both teams have proved they can defend, but this match will come down to who can take a chance.

Brutally, which big-money signing can save his manager's skin.

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