Both sides are desperate for a victory in the Championship tonight as West Bromwich Albion welcome Sheffield United to The Hawthorns.
The pressure is on Ryan Mason as a result of some underwhelming performances throughout the campaign now being caught up by some average results. West Brom were beaten 3-2 by Southampton on Tuesday, making it one win in their last five matches.
Sheffield United started the season woefully and remain in a relegation battle, despite being playoff finalists last year, but the Blades have shown some signs of improvement again since the return of Chris Wilder. They were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw with a poor Norwich City side on Tuesday.
AllSportsPeople brings you the latest tips and odds for this clash in Championship.
West Bromwich Albion vs. Sheffield United Prediction: Who Will Win?
With home advantage, West Brom will be expected to dictate the tempo of the game but that has become an issue for the Baggies with Mason’s possession-dominant style of football lacking much of a cutting edge in the final third.
Sheffield United will head to The Hawthorns with a bit more clarity in their minds about what they are trying to do, and a bit more confidence too, and they’ll fancy themselves to get a result.
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Head-to-Head: West Brom vs Sheffield United
- The most recent outing between these two sides came in late-December last year, with the two sides sharing a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane, a few weeks after a 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns.
- The most famous clash between these two sides came in March 2002 and is known as the ‘Battle of Bramall Lane’ with a Neil Warnock Sheffield United side managing to get the game abandoned in the 82nd minute with a spate of red cards and injuries in a fiery contest, but the Football League decided the 3-0 scoreline in favour of West Brom would stand.
- Overall, the two sides, two of the oldest in England, have clashed on 124 occasions with West Brom winning 48, slightly edging out Sheffield United’s 46 victories.
West Brom vs. Sheffield United: Form Guide
West Brom – Last 5 matches (All competitions)
- Southampton 3-2 West Bromwich Albion (Championship)
- Queens Park Rangers 3-1 West Bromwich Albion (Championship)
- West Bromwich Albion 3-2 Swansea City (Championship)
- West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Birmingham City (Championship)
- Coventry City 3-2 West Bromwich Albion (Championship)
Sheffield United – Last 5 matches (All competitions)
- Sheffield United 1-1 Norwich City (Championship)
- Sheffield United 4-0 Stoke City (Championship)
- Leicester City 2-3 Sheffield United (Championship)
- Sheffield United 3-0 Portsmouth (Championship)
- Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Sheffield United (Championship)
West Brom vs. Sheffield United Betting Tips
West Brom have attempted to show a bit more urgency and incision in the final third and that has led to some more entertaining and high-scoring clashes with their last six games all featuring both teams scoring, totalling 24 goals in those games.
Sheffield United will seek to be clinical on the counter-attack, as they were against Stoke last weekend, and they will fancy themselves to exploit a confused home side.
Prediction: West Brom 1-2 Sheffield United (10/1 with Bet365)
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West Brom vs. Sheffield United Team News
West Brom Team News
- The sale of Tom Fellows late in the summer has brought a lack of quality for West Brom in the final third and re-introduced the importance of Jed Wallace but the former Millwall man is now missing through injury.
- As well as the absence of Wallace, Manchester United loanee Toby Collyer is also missing for the hosts and is expected to be out until mid-January.
- Isaac Price is a key man in the so-called ‘number 10’ position for the hosts but the former Standard Liege midfielder has suffered a dip in form of late.
Sheffield United Team News
- Chris Wilder has switched to something of a 4-4-2 box system with two strikers pretty much always starting. It wouldn’t be a massive surprise to see Patrick Bamford - a scorer last week - replace Danny Ings, who scored in midweek, as a result of rotation.
- Frustratingly, another goal scorer from last week and someone who was beginning to find some much-needed form after a big money summer move, Mark McGuinness, is now missing for the next few weeks.
- As well as the absence of McGuinness, likely departing loanee Ben Godfrey is also sidelined alongside Tom Davies and Chiedozie Ogbene with Ben Mee a doubt in defence.
West Brom vs. Sheffield United Lineups: Predicted Starting XI’s
This is how we think these two sides will lineup at The Hawthorns tonight.
West Brom predicted lineup to play Sheffield United
West Brom (4-2-3-1)
Wildsmith (GK) – Phillips, Bielik, Mepham, Styles – Diakite, Mowatt – Iling-Junior, Price, Ahearne-Grant – Heggebo
- Out: Collyer, Wallace
- Doubtful: N/A
- Suspensions: N/A
Sheffield United predicted lineup to play West Brom
Sheffield United (4-2-2-2)
Cooper (GK) – Seriki, Tanganga, Bindon, Burrows – Arblaster, Soumare – Chong, O’Hare – Cannon, Bamford
- Out: Godfrey, McGuinness, Davies, Ogbene
- Doubtful: Mee
- Suspensions: N/A
West Brom vs. Sheffield United Betting Odds
- West Brom to win: 152/100 with 10Bet
- Sheffield United to win: 21/10 with Ladbrokes
- Draw: 11/5 with AK Bets
Bet Builder Tips: West Brom vs. Sheffield United
As West Brom take on Sheffield United in a crucial clash, our bet builder backs the visitors to win, both teams to score, Callum O’Hare to have a shot on target and Alex Mowatt to be carded which came to overall odds of 40/1 with Bet365 at the time of writing.
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How to watch: West Brom vs. Sheffield United Live Stream, TV Channel
Here’s all the key information for how to watch West Brom vs. Sheffield United.
- Date: Friday, December 12
- Venue: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, England
- Time: 8:00 p.m.
- TV/Stream: Sky Sports / Sky Go