Plymouth vs Sheffield United Prediction: Blades can’t lose again…

Bottom of the table Plymouth Argyle took a beating at Swansea in midweek, and unless they can produce a miraculous end to the season, it feels as though they will be playing League 1 football next term. 

The Pilgrims sit five points from safety and they face a Sheffield United outfit on Saturday that are reeling after back-to-back defeats. This one is live on Sky Sports Main Event at 12:30, and below you can find my Plymouth vs Sheffield United predictions. 

Football Odds

Team News

Plymouth were handed a bit of a lesson in midweek and Miron Muslic has work to do now to keep them afloat. They went for a 3-4-3 again in Wales, having beaten Norwich at home with that system, but it didn’t quite work out against Alan Sheehan’s Swans. 

Michael Obafemi and Ryan Hardie were both ineffective in that away game but they do carry Plymouth’s biggest threat so it is unlikely that they will be dropped, but Callum Wright could come into the starting XI to provide more guile. 

Victor Palsson will hope for a start in defence having come off the bench, while Adam Randall is at risk of losing his spot in midfield having been replaced at half-time. With Jordan Houghton, Tymoteusz Puchacz and Wright all coming off the bench at the break, Muslic clearly wasn’t happy with his starters, so I’m expecting a raft of changes for this one. 

Meanwhile, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder was stubborn with his team selection against Millwall, naming the same XI that lost 1-0 at Oxford. It backfired massively as they fell to another 1-0 defeat, and lost key ground in the automatic promotion race. 

Now two points behind both Burnley and Leeds they have ground to make up, and with the array of talent on the bench I can’t see him sticking with that XI again. Callum O’Hare surely has to come back into the starting XI for Rhian Brewster, while Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Tom Cannon are also pushing for places from the off. 

Dropping Tyrese Campbell would be a big call but he’s been leading an attack that hasn’t scored in their last two outings, while Vinicius Souza also has to start in midfield again ahead of Hamza Choudhury. Wilder has to pull the trigger on these changes sharpish, he can’t afford another tepid display at this stage of the season. 

Plymouth vs Sheffield United Odds

Plymouth are priced up at 5/1 to win this game, which gives you an idea of the task at hand for the home side. A draw is 3/1, while Sheffield United are the favourites at just 4/7 to take all three points. That gives the misfiring Blades an implied win probability of 63% as they look to stop this losing run. 

Over 2.5 goals is 10/11 having come in during 56% of Argyle matches, while BTTS is the same price for this Home Park clash. In terms of goalscorers, Campbell leads the first goalscorer market at 9/2 having scored 10 in 29. 

Sheffield United to win @ 4/7

I hate backing teams in poor form, but I have to go for Sheffield United in this one. Wilder’s stubbornness has cost them in the last two fixtures, but they’ve got a wealth of talent in their squad and I think that will shine through against Plymouth. Argyle have won seven of their 20 home matches and they are far better at home than they are away, but ultimately they have proven over the course of 41 matches to be the worst team at this level. 

Meanwhile, Sheffield United have amassed the same number of points on the pitch as Burnley and Leeds and I just can’t see them losing three in a row. This is a time for their top players to dig in and produce the goods, and I think they will give Plymouth a lesson at Home Park. 

They’ve shown they have the stomach for the fight several times this term, and I can’t see them slipping up again in Devon.

Bet Builder - Gyabi and Hamer to get booked, Campbell and Hardie to score @ 125/1 

Have I gone mad? Or is this just excellent value for this lunchtime clash? Let’s start with the yellow cards, in Darko Gyabi and Gustavo Hamer. Gyabi is the most-booked Plymouth player this season and has already got 10 yellows this term, three of those coming in his last six games. 

He’s going to play at the heart of midfield and will have to be a destructive presence, so let’s back him to pick up a card. Meanwhile, Hamer needs no introduction to the referee’s notebook. He is the most-booked player in the Championship this term with 12 yellows, so I’m happy to back him to get stuck in as well at Home Park. 

Finally, let’s back two goalscorers, one for either side. I think Campbell will be trusted to lead the line again as he is United’s best number nine and although he’s blanked in his last two he has scored four goals in his last seven. 

Plymouth’s Ryan Hardie is up to eight for the season and scored twice against Norwich at home, so let’s pick him to take advantage of this Blades defence that is losing confidence. 125/1? I’ll have some of that. 

Offers

Double Delight & Hat-Trick Heaven: Get double or treble the odds if your winning First Goalscorer bet scores a 2nd and 3rd

Place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any Premier League or Championship game on Friday or Saturday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Sunday’s Premier League or Championship games. (Credited upon Bet Settlement)

Acca Flex: Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down