Sheff Utd v Aston Villa: Oppose goals between promotion-chasing pair

Sheffield United v Aston Villa
Tuesday 30th January 2018, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports

Sheffield United boss demands more

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has challenged his players to make themselves "undroppable" as the Blades enter a potentially season-defining run of games. United reached the FA Cup 5th Round on Saturday thanks to a 1-0 success over Preston, keeping their unbeaten 2018 record intact.

New signings Ricky Holmes, Ryan Leonard and Lee Evans were all ineligible for the meeting with Preston whilst loan signing James Wilson watched from the bench. CaptainBilly Sharp settled the fixture with a second-half penalty whilst Ched Evans made an impressive long-awaited return from injury.

Wilson and Leonard both impressed on their debuts against Norwich last week and should return to the fold here but David Brooks, Kieron Freeman and Paul Coutts all remain sidelined.

Aston Villa look to continue winning streak

Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce have his squad three days off during their 10-days of preparation leading up to this contest with plenty of players and staff struggling with illness. The Claret & Blue supremo is desperate to keep his group fit and fresh for the final furlong.

Villa's 3-1 triumph over Barnsley last time out was their fourth successive Championship victory, pushing the Second City club into contention for an automatic promotion berth. Scott Hogan's found form with four goals in three games and the visitors appear to be in good shape.

Jonathan Kodjia, Mile Jedinak, Chris Samba and Gabby Agbonlahor are still out, whilst Ritchie De Laet has departed on loan. Meanwhile, new addition Axel Tuanzebe is expected to be involved and Birkir Bjarnason should continue in his deeper defensive midfield role after impressing against the Tykes.

Little to chose between the two

Sheffield United have been chalked up as 2.34 favourites and although the Blades have W2-D4-L5 in their past 11 Championship outings, their home record (W8-D2-L4) includes victories over both Wolves and Derby.

Aston Villa 3.55 arrive on the back of four successive wins - their joint-best run of results since suffering relegation - and a fifth here could see Steve Bruce's boys pierce the top-two should results go their way.

However, Villa's win return against top-10 teams leaves a lot to be desired (W3-D5-L4) and their road record remains unconvincing. The visitors have W1-D2-L4 when travelling to the current top-10 and have been beaten in nine of their past 13 trips to top-half teams.

Oppose goals between promotion-chasing pair

With only 6/14 (43%) of Sheffield United's home outings and the same number of Aston Villa's away days providing Under 2.5 Goals profit, it may pay to oppose goals. Indeed, nine (32%) of their collective 28 respective home/away matches have featured no more than a solitary strike, strengthening our assumption.

Considering the pair have kept 12 clean sheets in that 28-game sample, plus the fact a chunky 17/28 (61%) failed to produce Both Teams To Score winners, the obvious selection is to tick 'No' in the BTTS column at a generous 1.88, odds that imply only a 53% chance of being paid-out.

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Back Both Teams To Score ‘No’ @ 1.88 in Sheffield United v Aston Villa