Prediction: Sheffield United vs Coventry City

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Luckster

After the season’s final international break, Sheffield United and Coventry City will face off at Bramall Lane on Friday in a pivotal Championship clash.

The hosts occupy an automatic promotion spot, holding a narrow two-point lead over third-placed Burnley, while the visitors have risen to fifth place, maintaining the same margin ahead of the remaining playoff contenders.

Sheffield United

Sheffield United resume their Championship campaign on Friday, aiming to reclaim the top spot and strengthen their automatic promotion bid.

After a costly home defeat to league leaders Leeds United in late February – just their sixth league loss of the season – the Blades quickly regained form before the international break, going four games unbeaten with three wins. They secured victories over Queens Park Rangers and Preston North End, making it six wins in seven matches despite that setback.

Following a frustrating 1-1 home draw with Bristol City, in which they conceded a 90th-minute equalizer from Mark Sykes after Tyrese Campbell’s opener, Chris Wilder’s side headed to rivals Sheffield Wednesday and completed the double over the Owls with a 1-0 win, courtesy of Rhian Brewster’s second-half strike.

That marked a league-best 25th Championship victory for the season, bringing their tally to 82 points from 38 games. Despite only trailing Leeds on goal difference after a two-point deduction, they remain just two points ahead of third-placed Burnley in a tight promotion battle.

With eight games to go, they will aim to take another key step toward an immediate Premier League return by reclaiming top spot with a home win on Friday.

Team News

Sheffield United are expected to remain without defenders Alfie Gilchrist, Harry Clarke, and Rhys Norrington-Davies, as well as midfielders Tom Davies, Oliver Arblaster, and Jamie Shackleton, all of whom were sidelined with long-term injuries before the international break.

Key midfielder Vinicius Souza also missed the trip to Sheffield Wednesday, and if he is not fully fit to start, Sydie Peck and Hamza Choudhury will likely continue their partnership in the center of the park.

Tyrese Campbell will lead the attack once again, having netted nine goals in 26 league outings this season. Meanwhile, Callum O’Hare, Gustavo Hamer, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Ben Brereton Diaz, and Rhian Brewster will compete for spots in support, with Hamer and O’Hare boasting a combined 314 appearances for Friday’s opponents before joining the Blades.

Coventry City

Despite their recent improvement, the Blades face a stern challenge, as their visitors arrive in strong form amid their own promotion push.

After a disappointing start to the Championship campaign and the departure of long-serving manager Mark Robins, Coventry City appointed Frank Lampard in late November. Since then, they have surged up the table, breaking into the top six with an impressive run.

Under Lampard, the Sky Blues have collected 42 points from 21 league matches, winning 13 and losing just five. Notably, 10 of those victories have come in their last 12 outings since mid-January.

Following a defeat at Derby County that ended a five-game winning streak, the West Midlands side responded emphatically before the break, as Haji Wright netted a hat-trick in a 3-0 home victory over fourth-placed Sunderland.

Now sitting fifth after their impressive rise, but holding only a two-point lead over sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion and seventh-placed Bristol City with eight matches left, Coventry City travel to Bramall Lane eager to continue their momentum and strengthen their playoff bid with another key win.

Team News

Coventry City travel to Bramall Lane without key midfielder Jack Rudoni, who remained sidelined with a shoulder injury before the break. Ben Sheaf and Brandon Thomas-Asante also missed the Sunderland victory and may continue their recovery in the treatment room.

Despite competition from Ellis Simms, Haji Wright is expected to lead the attack once again, having taken his season tally to 10 goals in 19 league outings with a hat-trick last time out—his first goals since early November following a lengthy injury absence.

He will likely be supported on the flanks by Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Ephron Mason-Clark, with Victor Torp offering additional attacking presence through the middle. Meanwhile, Jamie Allen should partner January signing Matt Grimes in midfield if Sheaf is not deemed fit to start.

Conclusion

With both teams returning from strong runs and eager for three crucial points in their promotion chase, Friday’s clash at Bramall Lane promises to be a tightly contested battle.

Facing one of their toughest challenges in recent months, the Blades may have the slight edge, relying on their defensive solidity to grind out another narrow victory on home turf.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Luckster