Stoke City vs Sheffield United Predictions

• Stoke City have failed to win their last four home league games (2 draws, 2 defeats).
• Sheffield United are unbeaten away from home in their last five, winning the last three.
• Stoke were dominated by Burnley on Wednesday, escaping with a draw in the end.

Back Blades to stay on top

Sheffield United can stay at the forefront of the promotion race by beating an off-key Stoke City at bet365 Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Blades have lost their momentum after a draw and a defeat in the last two, but there was little wrong with their overall performance in Tuesday’s loss to improving QPR other than in the final third.

Defensively, Paul Heckingbottom’s side still look elite in this company – despite the injury to Anel Ahmedhodzic which will keep him out a little longer. Midfielders Sander Berge and Ollie Norwood continue to perform well, but the Blades strikers could not get any joy out of a superb rangers defence at Bramall Lane.

There should be more possibilities for them at Stoke, who have not kept a clean sheet in their last four home games and shipped four in front of their own fans against Watford last weekend. Alex Neil was indebted to goalkeeper Josef Bursik for stopping Burnley from running riot at Turf Moor in midweek before the manager’s masterstroke idea to send on a big centre-back up front instead of Dwight Gayle earned them an undeserved leveller.

Neil’s substitution suggests Stoke strikers are struggling

It’s a sad indictment of Stoke’s strikers that Neil made that move and does not augur well for them to get many – or any – goals against the Blades on Saturday. Sheffield United have won their last three away games to nil and that should be a consideration here, but rarely do sides maintain such streaks and we would rather play safe with the main recommendation.

United can win, but a draw no bet play makes sense given the odds are still acceptable at around the 8/13 mark and they are unbeaten in their last five road trips. Without a win in four at home, Stoke are not in the sort of form to take three points, but if their luck holds like it did on Wednesday, they could nick a draw.

Nonetheless, a 2-1 away win is forecast because the Blades have scored exactly two goals in four of their five road games this term and Stoke have shipped eight across their last four at the bet365 Stadium, finding the back of their opponents’ nets five times in five home games in total.