Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United Prediction: Things could get tasty on Teesside

Sheffield United finished third in last season's EFL Championship, 26 points ahead of 10th-placed Middlesbrough, but heading into their fourth fixture of the current campaign, the Blades trail Boro by nine points.

Below are my Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds, ahead of Saturday's lunchtime kick-off at the Riverside Stadium (12:30 BST, Sky Sports Main Event).

Team News

Boro boss Rob Edwards will have to make at least one change to the team that started last Saturday's 2-1 win at Norwich City, with their first goalscorer at Carrow Road, Finn Azaz, completing a move to Southampton on Friday.

Delano Burgzorg, Sontje Hansen or Manchester City loanee Sverre Nypan could replace him for the visit of Sheffield United.

Football Odds

Seny Dieng (Achilles), Alex Bangura, Riley McGree (both hamstring) and Darragh Lenihan (ankle) are all set to miss out again this weekend.

Newcastle United left-back Matt Targett could make his debut for the club after joining on loan earlier this week.

Tahith Chong and Japhet Tangana could make their Sheffield United debuts on Saturday after completing moves from Luton Town and Millwall, respectively, this week.

Danny Ings is also in line for a Blades bow after the 33-year-old centre-forward, who left West Ham United in the summer, joined as a free agent in the last couple of days.

Today's Football Fixtures

Likewise, Swedish defender Nils Zatterstrom is looking to pull on the red and white for the first time following his recent switch from Malmo.

However, Rhys Norrington-Davies won't be featuring at the Riverside after completing a loan move to Queens Park Rangers on Monday, while Jamie Shackleton (foot), Sai Sachdev (leg), Tom Davies (unspecified) and Ollie Arblaster (knee) remain out of action.

Middlesbrough vs Swansea Odds

Boro beat the Blades 1-0 at home last season, and Edwards' side are 6/5 to maintain their 100% league record on Saturday, implying a 45.5% probability of success, while the visitors are 9/4, or a 30.8% chance, to get off the mark in style on Teesside. A first stalemate for both, meanwhile, is available at 12/5.

Tommy Conway scored his first goal of the season last weekend, and the Boro striker is 7/4 favourite in the anytime market here, with Tyrese Campbell first up for United at 12/5.

Player to Receive a Card - Hayden Hackney (MID) @ 16/5

Boro midfielder Hayden Hackney received his first yellow of the season at Norwich last Saturday, and I'm backing him to make it back-to-back bookings this weekend.

The 23-year-old has picked up nine yellows in two of the last three league campaigns, including in 2024/25, when he was also brandished his first red card.

Given he averaged 1.7 fouls per game in last season's Championship, his card tally wasn't exactly a surprise.

Hackney has already committed eight fouls this term, two in each of his three second-tier outings, and a couple as a 61st-minute substitute in the Carabao Cup defeat to Doncaster Rovers (0-4).

I expect him to hit those numbers again on Saturday up against the likes of Blades midfielders Callum O'Hare and Gustavo Hamer, who have been fouled six and three times, respectively, already this Championship campaign.

At 16/5, Hackey represents great value in the Player to Receive a Card market.

Booking Points Over/Under +42.5 - Over 42.5 @ 11/8

It was a pretty spicy affair the last time these two teams met, at Bramall Lane in February. Five yellow cards, working out as 50 booking points (10 for a yellow with Betfred), were brandished - four in the first half.

Boro's first three league games have all produced 50+ booking points - 70 (seven yellows) against Swansea City, 80 (eight yellows) against Millwall, and 55 (three yellows, one straight red) last time out at Norwich.

There wasn't a single card in United's opening-weekend defeat to Bristol City (1-4), but 40 booking points (four yellows) and 70 booking points (seven yellows) followed in further 1-0 losses to Swansea (A) and Millwall (H), respectively.

Over 42.5, then, looks achievable at the Riverside on Saturday, with the likes of Hackney and Hamer throwing themselves around.

Offers

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