Prediction: Sheffield United vs Burnley

Verdict: Sheffield United win

Best odds: 2.68

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Sheffield United are rapidly moving down to the English football second division, and their match against Burnley on Friday night offers them a great opportunity to win and extend their mathematical prospects of surviving for at least one more week.

Even with a victory, Sheffield United will stay at the bottom of the Premier League for at least another round. The game will be played at Bramall Lane, where over 30,000 fans will cheer for the home team’s fourth league win this season.

Sheffield United

The Blades are among the teams with the lowest points tally in the Premier League’s history, having gathered just 16 points in 32 games. Also, the intended outcome of Chris Wilder’s return to the Sheffield United bench and Paul Heckinbotom’s mid-season dismissal has not materialised.

The host dropped further in the standings due to April’s brutal schedule with difficult games against formidable opponents like Brentford, Chelsea, and Liverpool. Nevertheless, Sheffield United performed great against Chelsea at home, despite losing to Liverpool at Anfield and to Brentford at GtechCommunity Stadium.

In an exciting match at Bramall Lane, Oliver McBurnie’s unmarked late goal gave Chris Wilder’s team an equaliser despite Chelsea taking the lead twice. To improve their spirits before their upcoming away games against Manchester United and Newcastle, Sheffield United has to defeat Burnley. It’s safe to say the outcome of these three games will impact the Blades’ Premier League faith.

Nevertheless, when playing at home, the host has a different face, putting on a show and scoring plenty of goals in front of their fans. Previously to the Chelsea match, they played Fulham in the Premier League and put on a stellar performance that saw the game end with six goals scored (3-3) much to fans’ delight.

Team News

Leg problems have kept center-backs John Egan and Chirsi Basham out of action. They have missed most of The Blades’ games this season, and it is unlikely they recover by the season’s conclusion. In the hopes that his team can pull off the victory and pick up three points this time, Chris Wilder aims for his players to mimic the performance from the home game against Chelsea.

Burnley

Vincent Kompany’s impressive start for Burnley last season, which resulted in a return to the top tier of English football following complete dominance in the Championship was a great achievement. However, the Premier League looks to be a bigger hat that Burnley can wear at this stage. The hosts require a miracle to escape relegation at the end of the season, having only 20 points from 33 games.

Still, if the Clarets continue their recent winning streak they could be getting close to safety, given the points deductions the league has imposed on relegation scrappers Everton and Nottingham Forrest. Also, Vincent Kompany has rejuvenated the club towards the end of the season, giving supporters hopes that his side may compete in the Premier League the following season, with only one loss in the last six rounds (W1D4L1).

Although the club was on the verge of a sure return to the Championship after three straight scoreless defeats, the young Belgian coach made decisive adjustments to his team’s playing formula leading Burnley to net at least one goal in five of their previous six games.

Moreover, according to bookies, Burnley is the favourite against Sheffield United after winning 2-1 at home against Brentford and pulling off a stunning 2-2 comeback against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge despite having a player sent off before halftime.

Burnley’s season is coming to an intense close with challenging matches against formidable opponents like Manchester United, Newcastle, and Tottenham. To have a mathematical chance of surviving when Burnley plays Nottingham Forrest at home in the final round, the hosts aim to breeze through these difficult tests.

Team News

Left Winger Luca Koleosho will miss the trip to Sheffield following his terrible knee injury sustained in December. The medical staff announced the player would not feature in the remaining games of this campaign. Centre-back Jordan Beyer is also out with a hamstring injury since January and will not recover in time to face Sheffield United.

Key factors to consider

• Sheffield United is heading back to the Championship with minimal chances to avoid relegation
• The hosts have one of the poorest points tally at this stage recorded in the Premier League history
• Chris Wilder’s team has conceded 84 goals in 32 rounds and is heading to surpass the 100 mark
• Burnley has a moral advantage over their opponent following the 5-0 trashing at Turf Moor
• The visitors’ attacking players are on fire scoring in 5 of their last 6 league games

Conclusion

To maintain their chances of surviving, Sheffield United will go into their match against Burnley hoping to win. Although the visitors impressed in the most recent rounds, the Blades have a strong recent record against their opponents and can win this time.

Verdict: Sheffield United win

Best odds: 2.68

Bookmaker: ZetBet