Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction Preview
Welcome to our Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview. Sheffield United may be down, but they can still have a say in which Premier League sides are coming down with them and the race for the top four with Forest, Everton and Tottenham left to play.
Next on the roster is Forest who are teetering towards the drop, winless in eight on the road. James Cantrill is on hand to preview this clash, picking out three bets.
Our Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest prediction is for Sheffield United to win the match 4-3.
- Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Tip 1: Sheffield United Win
- Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Tip 2: Morgan Gibbs-White Card
- Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Tip 3: Gibbs-White & Ben Osborn Cards
Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction 1: Sheffield shock?
England, Premier League, Saturday, May 4th, 15:30 (UK)
Already relegated Sheffield United host Nottingham Forest on Saturday where the hosts have the opportunity to do something hilarious.
Most northern clubs have a dislike of Forest stretching back to the miners strike but this hatred was renewed for the Blades after the pairs Championship play-off semi-final clash in the 2021/22 campaign.
Despite winning the match, the Blades lost on penalties, and following a pitch invasion, S2 legend Billy Sharp was headbutted.
I am not sure if the dis-like is reciprocated, but as a Sheffield United fan, I am sure Chris Wilder will be doubly keen to get one over this lot, not least as revenge for his pal Billy Sharp.
Defeat would leave Forest in a precarious position, they begin the weekend one point above the dotted line but with Luton playing Everton on Friday night they could end the weekend in the relegation zone.
Combine this narrative with Forest’s form. They have only won two of their last 18 games and haven’t won any of their last eight on the road.
It is a daft longshot, but I don’t think the Blades are going to roll over here.
- Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction 1: Sheffield United Win (TRACKED BET)
- Best Odds: 5.25
- Bookmaker: SkyBet
- Stake: 3/10
Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction 2: Don’t fall in love with a loanee
Given the context of the game, in terms of the hatred and what is at stake for the visitors, player cards have to be worth a look.
Morgan Gibbs-White looks the perfect candidate.
He went to Sheffield United on loan the season they lost to Forest in the play-offs, the Blades faithful fell in love with him but after Sheffield United didn’t go up he went to Forest for big money the following season.
I doubt he will get much of a reception at Bramall Lane on Saturday, which is one of the reasons his card price appeals. The fact he also has nine to his name this term also helps.
The midfielder likes to get stuck in averaging as many fouls (1) as he does complete tackles per game.
He started in a slightly deeper role in Forest’s last game, but even if he is in a central attacking midfield role, the price looks worth it as he has two cards in his last four starts.
- Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction 2: Morgan Gibbs-White Card (TRACKED BET)
- Best Odds: 4.00
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stake: 2/10
Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction 3: Narrative
Bottom of the league for points, but in the Champions League spots for ill-discipline, that is the real quiz anyway.
Sheffield Utd have racked up 91 cards this term, four of which red, which is an average of 2.74 a game.
Despite notching up three cards in limited game time this term, Ben Osborn is one of the Blades’ biggest prices for a card.
The former Forest man may have extra motivation here but he has also started the last three games at left back. Assuming he does so on Saturday, he could be opposing Anthony Elanga, a pacy winger who has drawn cards from two of his last ten opponents.
- Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction 3: Gibbs-White & Ben Osborn Cards (TRACKED BET)
- Best Odds: 26.00
- Bookmaker: bet365
- Stake: 1/10
Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Prediction odds via bet365, Sky Bet as at 15:00, April 30th, 2024. Odds may now differ.
Sheffield United vs Nottingham Forest Team News and Possible Lineups: McBurnie season over
Sheffield United may have seen the last of Oli McBurnie in a Blades shirt, he is out of contract at the end of the season and has picked up a season ending injury.
Ben Brereton Diaz will be partnered by fit again Cameron Archer in attack, the former Villa man has started the last two.
Nuno Espirito Santo reverted to a flat-back five against City but is expected to opt for a more attacking-minded 4-2-3-1 formation here.
This will see Gibbs-White return to the number 10 slot, Willy Boly dropped and Nicolás Domínguez return.
Sheffield United possible starting lineup: Foderingham; Hogate, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson; Bogle, Hamer, Arblaster, Brooks, Osborn; Brereton Diaz, Archer
Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup: Sels; Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Aina; Dominguez, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odio; Wood
Match OPTA Stats: Three Goals Away from 100…
- This is Sheffield United’s first home Premier League match against Nottingham Forest since October 1992, a goalless draw at Bramall Lane. They are unbeaten in their last four top-flight home games against Forest (W3 D1) since a 3-1 defeat in August 1967.
- Nottingham Forest are looking to complete their first league double over Sheffield United since the 2003- 04 campaign when the sides were in the second tier.
- Nottingham Forest have won just one of their last 19 Premier League games against promoted sides (D12 L6), though it was in the reverse fixture against Sheffield United this season. This will be the second time they’ve faced an opponent in their first match after being relegated from the Premier League (within the same season), previously beating QPR 3-0 in 1995-96.
- Sheffield United are just three goals away from becoming the second side in Premier League history to concede 100 goals in a single campaign, after Swindon Town in 1993-94 (100 in 42 games). The Blades would be just the third team to do so in a top-flight season with a maximum of 20 teams, after Darwen in 1891-92 (112 in 26 games) and Leicester in 1908-09 (102 in 38 games).
- The last time Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League (2020-21), they won their first game after their relegation was confirmed (1-0 v Brighton). Indeed, relegated sides have avoided defeat in their next match after their relegation was confirmed on four of the last seven occasions (W3 D1, excluding times teams went down on the final day).
- Sheffield United haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 19 Premier League games, also conceding at least two goals in each of their last nine. In the competition’s history, only three sides have shipped 2+ goals in 10 consecutive matches: Wimbledon (10 – March-May 2000), West Brom (10 – December 2010- February 2011), and Fulham (13 – January-April 2019).
- Sheffield United have conceded 51 goals in their 17 Premier League home games this season. In English top-flight history, only Aston Villa in 1935-36 have ever shipped more at home in a single campaign (56).
- Nottingham Forest haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 12 Premier League away games. Since beating Newcastle 3-1 in their first game on the road under Nuno Espírito Santo, the Tricky Trees are now winless in their last seven (D2 L5).
- Despite only playing 11 Premier League games this season, no Sheffield United player has had more shots on target than Ben Brereton (17).
Sheffield United Fixtures: A say at both ends
- Vs Everton (A)
- Vs Tottenham (H)
Nottingham Forest Fixtures: Crunch time
- Vs Chelsea (H)
- Vs Burnley (A)
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