Birmingham City vs Sheffield United Match Analysis and Prediction

2 years ago 379

Sheffield United will be having a nice opportunity to maintain their fine spell of form and record the third subsequent victory on Friday evening when they travel to face Birmingham City at Andrew’s Stadium in the 30th round of Championship.

The hosts are currently sitting 17th in the Championship standings with 33 points from their 29 matches, 11 points above 21st position Reading.

Birmingham have had a rollercoaster season packed with ups and downs and are currently not near the battle for promotional positions.

Much like their opponents, the Blues had an easy scheduled in the last several weeks, but they failed to capitalize.

Birmingham played back-to-back draws to Peterborough United and Derby County in the last two rounds.

The lack of defensive sharpness has been the main problem for Lee Boyer ans his men for quite some time now, and they have shipped two or more goals in three of the last four league outings. They have not kept a clean sheet in ten straight matches across all competitions.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United are currently 11th in the table boasting 39 from their 26 matches, three matches in hand on their opponents, six points adrift of 6th-placed Middlesbrough.

The Blades saw their last Championship match end in a 2-0 victory over Peterborough United, where Billy Sharp’s goal and an own goal from Callum Morton secured the three points for the visitors.

That success came off the back of a victory over Luton Town with the same scoreline in the Championship.

Sheffield United were generally the better team against Peterborough in the pitch and they well deserved to claim all the three points.

With promotional playoffs ambitions still well alive for the visitors, Paul Heckingbottom’s side should be considered as big favorites to make it three victories in a row here against Birmingham City.

Birmingham City vs Sheffield United head to head

The two sides have previously met on 81 occasions across all competitions, with Birmingham having taken 32 victories while Sheffield have won 33, and they have drawn in 16.

Birmingham have scored 123 goals and conceded 121. In their last five encounters, Birmingham have won two and they have drawn in three.

Sheffield United 1-1 Birmingham City 25/11/17

Birmingham City 2-1 Sheffield United 21/04/18

Sheffield United 0-0 Birminham City 19/09/18

Birmingham City 1-1 Sheffield United 10/04/19

Sheffield United 0-1 Birmingham City 07/08/21

Birmingham City latest home form

Birmingham have recently failed to keep a good record of form at home, having won just one of their last five matches. They recently managed to defeat Barnsley 2-1 in the league on January 22. In their last five home matches, they have won one, drawn two and lost two.

Birmingham City 2-2 Cardiff City 11/12/21

Birmingham City 1-2 Queens Park Rangers 02/01/22

Birmingham City 0-1(E) Plymouth Argyle 08/01/22

Birmingham City 2-1 Barnsley 22/01/22

Birmingham City 2-2 Peterborough United 25/01/22

Birmingham City latest away form

The Blues have recently been on a poor run of form on the road, as they have failed to win in any of their last seven matches. They recently lost heavily 6-2 against Fulham in the league. In their last five away matches, they have drawn two and lost three.

Millwall 3-1 Birmingham City 04/12/21

Blackburn Rovers 4-0 Birmingham City 18/12/21

Preston North End 1-1 Birmingham City 15/01/22

Fulham 6-2 Birmingham City 18/01/22

Derby County 2-2 Birmingham City 30/01/22

Sheffield United latest home form

Sheffield United have most recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their last three matches. Their last home defeat came on October 30 when they lost 1-0 to Blackpool. In their last five matches, they have won two, drawn one and lost two.

Sheffield United 1-2 Millwall 19/10/21

Sheffield United 0-1 Blackpool 30/10/21

Sheffield United 0-0 Coventry City 20/11/21

Sheffield United 2-0 Bristol City 28/11/21

Sheffield United 2-0 Luton Town 22/01/22

Sheffield United latest away form

The Blades recently lost 3-0 to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup before they were defeated 2-0 by Derby County in the league. However, they have recently improved as they have not lost in their last two matches. They have won two, drawn two and lost two of their last five matches.

Fulham 0-1 Sheffield United 20/12/21

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 Sheffield United 09/01/22

Derby County 2-0 Sheffield United 15/01/22

Preston North End 2-2 Sheffield United 18/01/22

Peterborough 0-2 Sheffield United 29/01/22

Birmingham City news

Birmingham manager Lee Bowyer has no fitness issues to worry about before this match, with a group who are without injuries available to choose from.

Meanwhile, 3-year-old striker Try Deeney has signed a two-year deal with boyhood club Birmingham, coming as a free agent following his emotional exit from Watford.

Sheffield United news

Paul Heckingbottom will be missing the services of Oliver Norwood who will not be available in this game through his suspension.

Without a full squad to pick from, he will also be without Jack O’Connell who will sit out with a Knee injury, while Oliver McBurnie is suffering a matatarsal fracture.

Prediction and odds

Sitting six points behind Middlesbrough in sixth position, Sheffield United are in a bigger need for points and they enter the match in much higher spirits from their last two matches.

Birmingham have failed to keep a clean sheet in ten successive matches in all competitions, and we see them going down here.

Odds: 1 2.45 X 2.05 2 2.20