Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough Predictions

• Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last 13 competitive games.
• No side has scored more goals than Boro’s 31 since Michael Carrick’s appointment.
• Middlesbrough have picked up seven victories across their last eight league games.

The Blades are looking sharp

Following Sheffield United’s 3-0 victory against Swansea at the weekend, the Blades have avoided defeat in each of their last 13 competitive clashes.

That run has propelled Paul Heckingbottom’s men into the final 16 of the FA Cup and ten points clear in the automatic promotion positions.

With strong form and a pending takeover by a Nigerian billionaire, it’s all looking rosy for the hosts at the minute. It would take a seriously bad run to get the Blades out of the top-two at this stage, but that’s where Middlesbrough come in.

Go for goals in an even match

Michael Carrick has been a revelation on Teesside, overseeing more goals scored than any other side in his 15 games in charge (31) as well as seven victories across the last eight Championship rounds. If there’s any man to mastermind only a second win at Bramall Lane since 1987 (D2, L8), it could be him.

A 3-1 win over Cardiff at the weekend strengthened Boro’s hand in pursuit of a play-off place, but victory is a must here if they are to retain any slender hope of crashing the automatic promotion party.

Despite the gap between the sides placed in second and third, both will see this as a must win game that will send a message to the rest of the league regardless of the victor. As such, we’re going for a BTTS & over 2.5 goals selection, with a small stakes play on a 2-1 Boro win.