Our prediction for this Championship match:
Sheffield United will be aiming to build on back-to-back wins over Luton Town and Peterborough United when they take on Birmingham City at St. Andrew’s Stadium. The Blades impressed in their last league match, and, as a result, the odds for away win have been dropping. Veteran attacker Billy Sharp is not getting any older, and we predict that the 35-year-old is going to prove a handful for the opposition back-line. Ryan Brewster, who limped off with injury in the triumph over the Posh, is unlikely to feature against Birmingham City.
Anyhow, away win should be considered as Sheffield United aim to move closer to the playoffs berth. The Blues, on the other hand, played out a 2-2 draw with Derby County in their last league match. Considering that Birmingham City conceded 11 goals in total in the previous four league fixtures, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the Blades. The likes of Marcel Oakley, Troy Deeney, and Adan George should miss out with injuries for the hosts.
Highlighted Player (George Friend):
George Friend has played for no less than nine English clubs so far in his career. Friend made his first-team debut for non-League club Exeter City on April 17, 2006 in a goalless draw with Forest Green Rovers and he stayed at St James Park until 2008. After ending his loan spells with Tiverton Town and Team Bath he joined Wolverhampton, but he made no more than seven appearances for the Wolves in the league.
The 188-cm-tall left-back, who is capable of playing as a centre-back as well, played for the likes of Millwall, Southend, Scunthorpe United and Exeter City on loan during his spell with Wolverhampton and at the end of the 2009/2010 season he signed a two-year deal with Doncaster Rovers. Friend made his Doncaster debut on August 7, 2010 in a 2-0 win over Preston and after three years at the club he was sold to Middlesbrough for a fee of £100,000.
The left-footed defender has been playing for Boro ever since and you should know that he made 24 appearances for the club in the 2016/2017 Premier League campaign.
Highlighted Team (Sheffield United):
Sheffield United are a professional football club that compete in the Championship. The Blades finished the 2016/2017 League One campaign in top position in the standings, with the team collecting exactly 100 points in the process. Sheffield United last competed in the Premier League in the 2006/2007 season and they were more than unfortunate not to secure the top flight survival.
The Blades finished the season in 18th place in the process and it has to be noted that they were level on points with Wigan Athletic, who managed to avoid the relegation to the English second tier. Sheffield United welcome their rivals at Bramal Lane, the stadium which was opened on April 30, 1855. The current capacity of the venue is 32.702.
The club have numerous rivalries, but the most notable one is the rivalry with their city neighbors Sheffield Wednesday. The two teams face each other in the Steel City derby and it has to be noted that United share rivalry with the likes of Barnsley, Rotherham United, Doncaster Rovers and Leeds United as well.