Sheffield United vs Sunderland Predictions

• No team has collected more home points in the Championship this season than Sheffield United
• The Blades have won seven matches on the spin at Bramall Lane, keeping clean-sheets in all of those
• Sunderland have gone five matches without a victory, failing to score three times during that run

Blades too sharp for visitors

Sheffield United have bounced back from last season’s Premier League relegation in some style, with their home record particularly catching the eye, as they have taken 22 points from the last 24 available on their own patch..

Since drawing 2-2 with Queens Park Rangers in their opening home match, the Blades have won seven matches on the spin at Bramall Lane and, remarkably, they have kept clean-sheets in all of those games.

The visit of promotion rivals Sunderland will put that imperious home record to the test, but the Black Cats will head to South Yorkshire without a win in five matches.

Sunderland stuttering ahead of promotion clash

Sunderland haven’t actually lost during their ongoing winless run, as they have drawn five matches on the spin, but it is not just victories that have dried up for Regis Le Bris’ side, as they have also failed to score three times during their current sticky spell.

Like their hosts, the Black Cats have only lost twice all season in the league, although both of those defeats have come on the road at Plymouth and Watford.

With their record against Sheffield United also poor – they have lost four league matches on the spin when facing the Blades – Sunderland’s promotion hopes could be dealt a further blow on Friday night.

There is not likely to be much between the two sides though, with just one goal separating them in eight of the last 10 meetings, which brings a 1-0 Sheffield United victory firmly into play.