Football Bet of the Day: Blades can continue clean sheet run

We’ve got an absolutely belting game coming our way from the Championship on Friday night as Sheffield United make the short trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United (20:00, Sky Sports Main Event). It should be a special night in Yorkshire as the favourites to win the league take on the Blades, who are yet to lose so far this season. 

With the Sky cameras in attendance and no Premier League action, it makes sense to focus on this Yorkshire derby for our Football Bet of the Day. Read on to find out what I’ve plumped for. 

I’m always on the lookout for value, but let me start with a disclaimer. I think Leeds are the best team in the Championship, they will go on to win the title this season and they could go and smash the Blades on Friday night. But what if they don’t? 

The reasoning for this pick is because I think Sheffield United are a lot closer to Leeds right now than the odds suggest. They are yet to lose a game this season, currently sit second in the Championship and are three points better off than their hosts are this term. The reason I believe that Leeds are favourites to win the league this season is because of their amazing squad depth and rotation options - something Chris Wilder’s outfit simply do not have. 

However, right now Leeds have suffered two key injuries to Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu which leaves them weakened, while the Blades currently have no key injuries to their star players. I think that levels the playing field somewhat, and if we are matching them up based on their first XIs, there is not a lot to choose between them. 

Leeds vs Sheffield United Odds

In Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare, Sheff Utd boast two of the Championship's superstars, while the likes of Harrison Burrows, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Vinicius Souza are also proving their worth this term. Elland Road will play a big part as always, and when things are going well for the home side it is a very tough place to play, but the away team may be able to frustrate them and slow the game down. 

We also have to look at the run Wilder has got his team on at the current moment in time, and the fact that they have the meanest defence in the Championship. They’ve conceded just three goals this season, with Michael Cooper having let in just one in since joining from Plymouth Argyle. It’s a remarkable back four made up of Alfie Gilchrist, Harry Souttar, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Harrison Burrows that looks rock-solid right now. 

In fact, Sheff Utd haven’t conceded in any of their last six league outings, winning five of those to nil. It’s a remarkable run of form that I believe could continue at Elland Road in the toughest environment. Despite the wealth of attacking talent that Leeds have, they have drawn their last two games and may be slightly rusty after the international break.

This is a selection we've had success with in the past, and at 7/1, I think Sheffield United have been massively over-valued to win to nil yet again. I think they could pull off something special on Friday night.