Sheffield United vs Norwich City Prediction: Blades need to sharpen up

Sheffield United have had a little wobble in the Championship in recent weeks, having won just won one of their last four matches. They have also failed to win in their last three home games in all competitions. The Blades will look to amend this when they host Norwich City at Bramall Lane on Saturday (15:00).

The Canaries head to South Yorkshire off the back of a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup, but they have triumphed in three of their last four outings in the second tier. Read on for my Sheffield United vs Norwich City prediction, accompanied by the latest team news and match odds.

Sheffield United vs Norwich City Odds

Having won nine of their 12 Championship clashes on home soil this term, Sheffield United are good value to win here on Saturday at 11/10, which has an implied probability of 47.6%.

Norwich have won three of their previous four fixtures in the league, so their 12/5 (29.4%) price does look tempting for the weekend. The draw is available at 9/4, and this result struck in the Blades' last home game in the league, which came against West Bromwich Albion.

Both teams to score has struck in each of Sheffield United's last three appearances in the Championship, and is valued at 4/5 for this clash.

Football Odds

Team News

Oliver Arblaster, Harry Souttar, Femi Seriki, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Vinicius Souza, Jamie Shackleton and Tyrese Campbell are all currently missing for the hosts due to injury, which will have had an impact on their recent run of games.

Arblaster, Souttar and Campbell in particular have been pivotal figures this season. Arblaster and Souttar are out for the season which has dealt a huge blow to boss Chris Wilder. Campbell is the Blades' joint-top scorer in the Championship with six goals, so his absence at the top end of the pitch is being felt.

Wilder is in need of some reinforcements this month and reports suggest that he is eager to land forward Tom Cannon on a permanent deal from Leicester City. The attacker has been recalled from his loan spell at Stoke City, where he netted nine goals in 22 Championship appearances.

Rivals Sunderland are also said to be tracking Cannon, and this deal could be huge in the race for promotion.

Norwich come into this game without their main attacking star, Borja Sainz, who was handed a six-game ban for spitting at an opponent in the clash with Sunderland last month.

Forward Josh Sargent was able to return to action from the bench against Brighton last time out, having recovered from the groin surgery which had kept him out of action for a couple of months.

Boss Johannes Hoff Thorup may be tempted to hand him a start at Bramall Lane to give his side some nous in the final third. Amankwah Forson netted a brace in victory over Coventry City in the league two weeks ago, and that threat from midfield could be key for Norwich against the promotion chasers.

Liam Gibbs (hamstring), Gabe Forsyth (knee) and Jacob Lungi Sorensen (groin) remain confined to the treatment room.

Sheffield United to win @ 11/10 

The Blades will be disappointed with their recent form in the second tier, but they are not the first team in the promotion race to experience a rough patch. Wilder will deem Norwich as a must-win, though, especially after the cup defeat to Cardiff City here a week ago.

Sheffield United did well to end their winless run in the Championship with three points at Watford a fortnight ago. They will look to build on this  against the Canaries in S2.

Norwich head here in good spirits with three wins from their previous four league encounters, but they have won just one of their last eight away trips in the second tier. The hosts will look to capitalise on this and get back into the rhythm that saw them win nine Championship games consecutively between September and December.

Sheffield United are having to cope without some key players right now, which they will be looking to address this month in the transfer window, but I still think they have enough quality within their ranks to get back to winning ways at Bramall Lane.

Over 2.5 goals @ 1/1

This market has been successful in the Blades' last two league appearances against Watford and Sunderland. The loss of defender Souttar appears to have made them vulnerable at the back.

Norwich will be hoping that is the case as they hope to pull off a big away win. The Canaries have had their ups and downs in the first half of the campaign, but they have still scored a whopping 43 goals, and only leaders Leeds United have scored more (48) in the division.

There have been at least three goals scored in four of the visitors' last six outings in the Championship, so I think there will be goals on offer at Bramall Lane this weekend.

Offers

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