Sheffield United vs Oxford Prediction: Hamer can slice through U’s

Sheffield United drew 1-1 with play-off contenders Millwall at the weekend, and their dreams of competing in the final top-six showdown in May seem to be fading. Chris Wilder’s men have a strong squad and are slowly climbing the table - but they end of the season may just come too soon for them.

However it’s not over yet, and if they beat Oxford United (19:45 GMT, Sky Sports+) they are eight points off the play-offs and below you can find my Sheffield United vs Oxford predictions, featuring betting tips and more. 

Team News

Sheffield United can welcome Patrick Bamford back into their starting XI having served his one-match suspension, while Japhet Tanganga and Djibril Soumare are both also free to play again having been sidelined for three games due to suspension.

They could all come back in to freshen up the side, with Gustavo Hamer likely to keep his place in the team after two impressive back-to-back displays. Harrison Burrows and Ollie Arblaster were both introduced at half-time and are likely to start this one on home soil.

Football Odds

Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield suffered his first defeat in charge of his new club as they lost 2-0 at home to Birmingham, so he could tweak things here. Tyler Goodrham remains out injured so Myles Peart-Harris may start again in support of either Mark Harris or Will Lankshear. 

Przemyslaw Placheta may complete the trio after he started on the bench, with Stanley Mills the most likely candidate to miss out. Cameron Brannagan and January arrival Jamie McDonnell are likely to play in midfield, with Christ Makosso a candidate to start at the back. 

Today's Football Fixtures

Sheffield United vs Oxford Odds

Sheffield United are the favourites to win this one at 8/15, while Oxford are 5/1 to come away victorious. That gives the Blades an implied win probability of 65%, while a draw is 16/5, over 2.5 goals and BTTS are both 4/5 and Bamford is 10/3 to open the scoring.  

Sheffield United to win to nil @ 7/5

This should be relatively straightforward stuff from the Blades. Their home form recently has been great, with five wins out of their last six Championship matches at Bramall Lane. They dismantled Ipswich Town 3-1 last time out on home soil, and they got the same scoreline at home to Leicester prior to that. 

I think they should be able to win this one comfortably, while I’ll also back them to keep a clean sheet with the return of Tanganga. He’s such a key figure in the defence he should sure them up at the back, while Oxford only created an xG of 0.47 as they drew a blank at home to Birmingham. 

Gustavo Hamer to assist a goal @ 21/10

Hamer was left out of the Sheffield United team for a while this term, as they strived to get results without him, but there is little doubt now that they cannot afford to leave him on the sidelines. He has started the last two games in the left midfield role in which he fired the Blades to 92 points on the pitch last term, and in those two matches he’s registered three assists. 

He was a constant issue for Ipswich to try and contend with as he played two balls over the top for players to run onto and finish, while he teed up Andre Brooks for the opener at the Den. He should be able to pull the strings again against Oxford. 

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