Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough Match Analysis & Prediction
15/02/2023 11:00 pm
Sheffield United play host to Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane on Wednesday night for a crucial match at the top end of the Championship table.
The hosts currently sit second with a 10-point lead and a game in hand over their third-placed visitors, after both succeeded in their last league matches at the weekend.
Sheffield United’s second place has been strengthened by their impressive run of form after the World Cup break in December, having not lost any of their nine league matches since, while only playing out two draws.
The most recent of those stalemates came away at Rotherham United at the beginning of February, as neither side managed to score in a South Yorkshire derby, and after getting past Wrexham in their FA Cup fourth round replay at Bramall Lane last Tuesday in a 3-1 victory, Sheffield set out to return to winning ways in the league when they hosted Swansea City on Saturday.
Sander Berge was on the scoresheet to put his side ahead in the 21st minute of that game, and after Jack Robinson double their lead on the stroke of half time, Oli McBurnie capped off a dominant display with a goal late on to seal a 3-0 victory.
That result saw the Paul Heckingbottom’s side move onto 61 points from their 30 matches, having won 18 of those while only conceding 24 goals, making their defensive record the tightest in the division at this point.
The Blades take on a Middlesbrough side who have gained major ground in the promotion race since Michael Carrick’s appointment as manager in October, having now won 10 of their last 12 league matches to climb from the fight at the bottom end of the division up to third place.
In that run, Middlesbrough have scored 26 goals to take their tally to 50 points for the season in the Championship, with that attacking record now only topped by leaders Burnley and Sheffield United.
After a run of four straight victories was ended by a disappointing 2-0 derby defeat to Sunderland, Boro have bounced back in impressive fashion and now head to Bramall Lane off the back of three more wins in a row, having firstly beaten Watford and Blackpool 2-0 and 3-0 respectively on home turf.
Middlesbrough would then travel to face Cardiff City on Saturday, and after Marcus Forss’ opener was cancelled out in the 25th minute, Cameron Archer would restore their lead before Riley McGree added a third in the last minutes to seal Boro’s 15th league win of the season.
Carrick’s side will aim to make it four wins in a row to start narrowing the gap to the top two while also further strengthening their place in the playoff spots.
Sheffield United vs. Middlesbrough Head to head
In the 81 previous meetings between these two teams across all competitions, Sheffield have claimed 35 victories while Middlesbrough have won 29, and they have drawn in 17. Middlesbrough have scored 116 goals and conceded 117 in the process.
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07/08/2018Middlesbrough3Sheffield United0Championship
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13/02/2019Sheffield United1Middlesbrough0Championship
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28/09/2021Middlesbrough2Sheffield United0Championship
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08/03/2022Sheffield United4Middlesbrough1Championship
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14/08/2022Middlesbrough2Sheffield United2Championship
Sheffield United Team News
Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie will hope to join Iliman Ndiaye up front, while Sander Berge, James McAtee and Oliver Norwood should all keep their spots in midfield in the continued absence of John Fleck and Tommy Doyle.
Max Lowe and Jayden Bogle are again set to operate in wing-back roles with George Baldock, Rhys Norrington-Davies and Enda Stevens remaining sidelined.
Sheffield United's Last 5 Matches
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20/01/2023Sheffield United1Hull City0Championship
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29/01/2023Wrexham3Sheffield United3FA Cup
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04/02/2023Rotherham United0Sheffield United0Championship
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07/02/2023Sheffield United3Wrexham1FA Cup
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11/02/2023Sheffield United3Swansea City0Championship
Middlesbrough Team News
Marcus Forss and January arrival Cameron Archer are both expected to keep their places in the front line after getting on the scoresheet last time out, while Chuba Akpom is set to start again.
Midfielder Dan Barlaser will be hoping to earn a first start for Middlesbrough after joining from Rotherham United in January, although Carrick has stuck with Hayden Hackney and Jonny Howson in midfield recently with Riley McGree offering further attacking support.
Middlesbrough's Last 5 Matches
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14/01/2023Middlesbrough1Millwall0Championship
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22/01/2023Sunderland2Middlesbrough0Championship
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28/01/2023Middlesbrough2Watford0Championship
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04/02/2023Middlesbrough3Blackpool0Championship
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11/02/2023Cardiff City1Middlesbrough3Championship
Sheffield United vs. Middlesbrough: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Sheffield United or X
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