Can Sheffield United Avoid An Upset Against Scunthorpe?

League 1

Football
Published: 23/03/2015

Sheffield United will be hoping to cement their position in the League One play-off zone with a win over the struggling Scunthorpe United tomorrow night. The Bramhall Lane outfit currently sit in fifth position in the table and whilst they are a full 11 points off fourth, they would be able to move six points clear of seventh place Barnsley with a victory at home, giving them the best possible chance of ending the season in the top six. A defeat would see them vulnerable to slipping out of the play-offs all together, something that would not be acceptable to manager Nigel Clough.

Scunthorpe have found their first season back in League One hard following their promotion from League Two last year. Mark Robins` men are currently only one point clear of the relegation quagmire in 17th position, their only saving grace being that they have two games in hand. Losing by a margin of more than three goals would see the Iron fall beneath Coventry whilst a victory by the same margin would see them move above Walsall. Any other outcome would not have a bearing on the Lincolnshire club`s league standing.

This match is a repeat of the two sides` initial league meeting just two weeks ago. This match at Scunthorpe`s Glanford Park ended tied, both teams grabbing a goal each. Both goals came at the end of the first 45 with Neal Bishop putting the home side in front on the 37 minute marker. That lead lasted all of eight minutes, however, with Kieron Freeman equalising in added time. A goalless second half meant that the game ended honours even.

Both Betvictor and betway are offering odds of 7/1 on the match ending 1-1 for the second time in succession. Bishop is a 33/1 (bet365) shout to provide the opener once again whilst 5/1 (Betvictor, betway) says that the match will be a draw both at the end of 45 minutes and at the end of 90 minutes.

Despite being unable to snatch the winner in their last encounter against Scunthorpe, it is the Sheffield club who are the favourites to walk away with all three points tomorrow night. Clough`s men are currently odds-on, the best price being 8/11. This is available at bet365, Betvictor and boylesports. Otherwise, Robins` visitors can be picked up at odds of 29/10 with both bet365 and Betvictor. A draw can be supported at 9/2 across the board.

The home side ended a run of five games without a win by picking up a 1-0 victory at home to Port Vale at the weekend. This result also put an end to their three game winless run at Bramhall Lane. Despite these mixed fortunes, the last time Clough`s men had failed to score at home was back in December. Consequentially, the Blades can be backed at 2/11 (boylesports) to score over 0.5 goals against Scunthorpe. With three goals in their club`s last five home games, Jose Baxter and Matt Done are their club`s top goalscorers in this period. The latter is available at 6/1 (Betvictor, paddy Power) to break the deadlock whilst Baxter is a 6/1 (bet365, betfred, Betvictor) shout to grab the last goal of the match.

The visitors are without a win in seven games, having picked up only two points from their last five games on their travels. Their last win on the road in the league came back in late January. The Iron have conceded 10 goals in their last five away games with Sheffield United at 5/6 (boylesports) to hit over 1.5 goals past them tomorrow.

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Any odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of publishing (23/03/2015) but are subject to change.

23/03/2015     © Frixo 2024

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