Sheffield United will be forced to do it the hard way if they are to secure a Premier League return for next season after Chris Wilder’s side missed out on automatic promotion in behind Leeds United and Burnley.
The Blades lost out at Burnley on Easter Monday and they now face a battle in the EFL Championship playoffs. Up next for Wilder is a tricky trip to Stoke with Sunderland, Bristol City and Frank Lampard’s Coventry City set to complete the playoff quartet.
Our tipster James O’Rourke dives in on the Blades Friday trip to Stoke.
Stoke v Sheffield United Bet Builder
Both teams to score
Lewis Baker to have 1+ shots on target
Tom Cannon to have 1+ shots on target
Junior Tchamadeu to commit 1+ fouls
WHEN: Friday, 25th of April, 8pm
WHERE: Bet365 Stadium, Stoke
TV: Sky Sports Football/Sky Sports Main Event
Both teams to score
The most interesting aspect of this game is how Sheffield United approach it. Will they be feeling sorry for themselves after missing out on direct promotion? Does Wilder make changes to his team?
There are plenty of unknowns in that respect. However, they can at least approach the final two matches of the campaign minus pressure, with bigger games are to come. They’ve had high stakes matches for a while now, so they could relish this contest, particularly as Stoke are yet to seal their survival.
Stoke should have a real go, particularly early on. They were hammered 6-0 at Leeds on Monday and Mark Robins will demand an instant reaction. Three points for City means relegation is no longer a possibility, and they’ll be eager to be quick out of the blocks, to take advantage of an opponent possibly going through the motions.
This could be a really open match. Stoke enjoy playing at home, and are unbeaten in five on home turf, as well as losing only once inside 90 minutes in their stadium since Boxing Day. The Blades have lost four in five, including each of their last three on the road.
The hosts will fancy getting the job done themselves, but the visitors are on a ten-match run of netting in away clashes, and six of those have ended with both teams scoring.
Lewis Baker to have 1+ shots on target
One of the shining lights in more recent times for Robins’ side has been Lewis Baker. Prior to Robins taking the job with The Potters, Baker spent time on loan at rivals Blackburn Rovers. That spell was cut short once there was a managerial change at Stoke and he’s impressed since.
Baker will be hoping to celebrate his 30th birthday in style and recent form suggests he could have a big role. He has five goals across his previous 13 appearances, as a clear signal of his form.
Baker has been pushed into a No.10 spot, which is undoubtedly a reason for his greater goal threat. He has the ability to make something from nothing, proven by his halfway line strike vs Swansea.
Baker has hit a shot on target in half of his last eight clashes as a starter, plus in four of his last five.
Tom Cannon to have 1+ shots on target
Cannon enjoyed a successful loan spell at Stoke earlier this season, which prompted Sheff Utd to splash out a reported £10m to lure him to Bramall Lane. It was so successful, the former Leicester City man remains City’s top scorer in 2024/25. But, he’s struggled to replicate those heights with his new team.
He bagged a goal in a rare start at Burnley on Monday and will be hoping to retain his place in Wilder’s team ahead of the play-offs in a few weeks’ time.
A return to familiar surroundings could be the spark required to see him rediscover more consistency. The Ireland striker has managed a shot on target in three of his last five appearances, as a marked improvement, considering prior to that he went nearly two months without doing so.
He could be trending in the right direction, and even if Stoke know all about him, keeping him quiet is another matter.
Junior Tchamadeu to commit 1+ fouls
Cameroon international Junior Tchamadeu has come into his own this season at Championship level and he’s made the Stoke right back berth his own in recent weeks. Some may look to his handy long throw as a weapon, but there is plenty about his game that makes him so tough to take out of the starting eleven.
Stoke are in good home form, so they’ll push to win this game, and their full backs will have a big role to play. So, there could be occasions when United get space to exploit, and Tchamadeu could be forced to commit a foul or two.
Only Wouter Burger has made more fouls for Stoke than Tchamadeu in league action this season. Despite making 30 fouls fewer than his teammate, they are level on ten yellow cards in the Championship.
Tchamadeeu has committed two or more fouls in three of his last eight appearances, meaning he has now done so on 12 occasions this season.
Stoke v Sheffield United betting tips
Both teams to score
Lewis Baker to have 1+ shots on target
Tom Cannon to have 1+ shots on target
Junior Tchamadeu to commit 1+ fouls
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