Leeds United vs Sheffield United – Match Preview – Fourth play third on Friday as Leeds host Sheffield United in an all Yorkshire affair.
Leeds got back to winning ways last time out with a resounding 3-0 win against fellow play-off side Bristol City. Before that win, Thomas Christiansen’s men had won just one of their last five games losing four. Despite that wobble, Leeds still sit in fourth place, which underlines their promising start they’ve had to this season.
At home, Leeds have lost only once this season. That was last time out against Reading but previous to that game, they had won their last three. Leeds home form has been built on an ability to keep clean sheets. They’ve conceded just three goals at home so far this season and have shut out the opposition on four occasions.
Saiz has scored 8 goals in 13 appearances for Leeds Photo Credit: skysports.com
Leeds’s achilles heel has been their inability to come from behind in games. On each occasion they have gone behind in a game, they have lost. A worrying statistic for Thomas Christiansen which shows an inability to grind out results in the face of adversity.
Sheffield United are in dreamland. Following promotion from League One last season, United fans could have only dreamt of a start like this. The club are level on points with second-placed Cardiff and are just two points off Wolves who are top.
Whilst the Blades have exceeded expectation, all their defeats this season have come on the road. Chris Wilder’s side have won two of three of their six away games and have won three of their last four. Last time on the road they came unstuck at Nottingham Forest who came away with a 2-1 victory. The Blades’ winning run has been built around their solidity at the back. Only Cardiff have conceded fewer in the Championship, whilst United also have five clean sheets to their name.
Sharp will hope to star against his old club Photo Credit: skysports.com
Two players who could define the outcome on Friday are Samuel Saiz and Billy Sharp. Leeds’s number 21 has been a key figure since signing in the summer with eight goals in 13 appearances. For United, Sharp has continued to be an integral part of the side following his 30-goal haul last season. The former Leeds striker managed just five goals in his time at Elland Road but has already equalled that tally this season for the Blades.
This game will be a fiercely contested match, with little between the two sides. With Leeds’s impressive home form, I think they might just edge it.
Prediction: Leeds 1-0 Sheff United
SKYBET: LEEDS TO WIN 1-0- 6/1
SKYBET: LEEDS TO WIN TO NIL- 11/4
SKYBET: SHARP AND LASSOGA TO BOTH SCORE- 13/2
SKYBET: BTTS AND DRAW- 3/1
SKYBET: BTTS AND OVER 2.5 MATCH GOALS- 11/8
SKYBET: SAMUEL SAIZ TO SCORE A BRACE- 12/1
SKYBET: UNITED TO WIN AND CLARKE TO SCORE FIRST- 30/1
