Aston Villa and Sheffield United meet in a Saturday evening clash that will have a huge impact on the Championship play-off race.
The two teams remain in the top six for now but must arrest poor runs of form. Villa have taken two points from their last three, scoring only once in that time while the Blades have taken one from five and are without several key players.
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Match Odds
The South Yorkshire outfit did win on their last visit to this ground and are 5/2 (3.50) with bet365 for a 13th victory of the campaign, which would guarantee that they stay in the top six over Christmas.
The same motive is there for the hosts, who can be found at 21/20 (2.05) to bag their seventh home triumph this term while a draw is 12/5 (3.40) with the same firm.
Clarke and Adomah well-fancied
If the visitors do score, it is likely to be through Leon Clarke who has 14 goals in 18 this term and is 15/8 (2.88) to add to his tally.
Clayton Donaldson made a case to partner Clarke during his substitute appearance at Preston last week and the ex-Birmingham striker and is 11/4 (3.75) to net against his former employers.
Conor Hourihane scored an injury-time equalizer against Sheffield United for Barnsley a couple of years ago and is 5/2 (3.50) to strike again, while Albert Adomah is 7/4 (2.75) to grab his 11th of the campaign.
Opposing Goals
Although Sheffield United have only drawn once this season, the absence of midfielders Paul Coutts and more recently John Fleck is beginning to affect their creative play and so a more cautious approach might be adopted here.
A draw and Under 2.5 goals is 3/1 (4.0), odds which imply a probability of 25%, yet that eventuality has occurred in 31.8% of Villa’s encounters this term.
Tips and Predictions
For our best bet, we’re backing the 9/4 (3.25) available on Under 1.5 goals, as these two teams currently average 2.67 shots on target per game in December, which suggests we could be in for a tight affair.
*Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
