Football Bet of the Day: Sunderland well priced to continue home rally v Blades

There’s a string of high-profile games being played across the world this Friday, but for our Football Bet of the Day we’re headed to the Women’s Super League 2, with Sunderland hosting Sheffield United at Eppleton Colliery Welfare (19:00 GMT).

This is a battle of two sides struggling to find consistency in a competitive second tier. Read on for our Football Bet of the Day for Friday.

Sunderland Women vs Sheffield United Women Odds

Head coach Mel Reay will be desperate to coax a good performance out of her Sunderland team after a 3-0 defeat to Bristol City last Friday knocked back the confidence which had been building up around the Lasses.

Successive home victories over Ipswich Town and Southampton had seen them climb from 11th to eighth in the table, but the setback in the south-west was a third straight away trip in which they have conceded three goals.

There has actually been a short-notice change of venue from the Stadium of Light for the Blades’ visit. But their last two games at Eppleton saw them pick up morale-bossting wins.

In particular, the 1-0 triumph over the promotion-challenging Saints, have got Sunderland fans looking up the table rather than nervously over their shoulders.

Those who continue to look downwards will see Friday’s visitors, with the Blades sitting two points behind their hosts going into this contest.

United’s issues this season have mainly stemmed from a lack of goals, with just 11 scored in 14 games to this point.

Even in holding league leaders Charlton Athletic last time out, they were profligate in front of goal. They dominated the first half in particular for long spells but only had Amy Andrews’ header from a brilliant Abbie Lafayette cross to show for it.

As such, it came as little surprise to then see the leaders peg them back with a rare foray forward when Lucy Fitzgerald hooked home a loose ball which wasn’t cleared.

New boss Stephen Healy will have been largely pleased with his side’s performance in what was his Bramall Lane debut, but that lack of killer instinct which has dogged the Blades all season remains.

As such, I’m backing a home team strengthened by the additions of Nottingham Forest’s Caragh Hamilton and Manchester United forward Mared Griffiths on loan this week.

The Lasses haven’t been the greatest in front of goal either, so I think this will be a low-scoring victory for Reay and her team as they look to maintain a safe distance over the strugglers.

The 18/5 Betfred are offering about a Sunderland win with under 2.5 goals imply a 21.7% probability, and that’s punter-friendly in my eyes.

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