Football betting tips: West Ham v Sheffield United
1pt Vladimir Coufal 1+ shot on target at 4/1
0.5pt e.w Vladimir Coufal to score first at 40/1 (e.w. terms 1/3 odds for 1-99 places)
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
West Ham v Sheffield United
- 18:00 GMT on BT Sport 1
- Match odds: Home 7/10 | Draw 5/2 | Away 19/5
Few sides can boast the type of impressive start that West Ham have made to 2021 – but, amazingly, the Premier League’s bottom side, Sheffield United, are one of them.
Five wins and a draw in the Hammers’ past seven games have raised hereto unfathomable hopes of Champions League qualification for David Moyes’ side.
Meanwhile, three of Sheffield United’s six victories since the turn of the year have come in the FA Cup but they have still given themselves a glimmer of a chance of pulling off the greatest of all great escapes.
Some might scoff at the list of the Blades’ victims – and with Newcastle, West Brom, Bristol Rovers, Plymouth and Bristol City they might have a point.
But Chris Wilder’s men also pulled off one of the most jaw-dropping results of the season during that spell by winning 2-1 at Old Trafford against title-chasing Manchester United.
That upturn, plus a slight Hammers dip – below-par in the Cup against United after being held to a goalless draw by Fulham – makes this one much, much harder to call than it would have been a month or so ago.
I’m not convinced enough by the Blades’ resurgence to suggest an away win at 4/1, given their hosts’ calibre, but the fact remains that they've beaten United and lost by only one goal to both Manchester City and Chelsea.
For a team in their position, Sheffield United don’t ship goals by the bucketload but they do concede in virtually every game (just one clean sheet all season).
They have allowed 10 goals from set-pieces this term (only Leeds on 11 have let in more from such routes), while no Premier League team has scored more from set-plays than the Hammers’ 11.
West Ham are slightly light in the centre-half department after injuries to Angelo Ogbonna and Issa Diop in midweek but that opens up the door for someone at slightly longer odds.
David Moyes switched to three centre-backs after Ogbonna and replacement Diop were both forced off at Old Trafford, with Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell comprising a makeshift back three alongside Craig Dawson.
Dawson (25s tops) is always a threat at set-pieces but it’s worth siding with Coufal at greater odds – he’s a huge 40/1 to net first with Sky Bet, which we can take to each-way terms with their 1-99 first scorer offer.
The Czech Republic right-back has been a huge hit since arriving at the Olympic Stadium from Slavia Prague last summer and will surely get the nod to head up for set-pieces ahead of the much shorter Cresswell.
Even if Moyes starts him in his usual position, Coufal has shown much more attacking intent in recent weeks – attempting four shots in his past five games, as many as he had unleashed in his previous 14.
With that in mind, it’s worth an insurance bet on Coufal to merely have a shot on target at 4/1 with Sky Bet – even if he doesn’t find the net, his growing confidence going forward and potential added threat at set-plays could well yield profit just by testing Aaron Ramsdale.
An outsider bet at small stakes is the route forward in a game I really believe could go any of three ways.
Score prediction: West Ham 1-1 Sheffield United (Sky Bet odds: 6/1)
West Ham v Sheffield United best bets
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