Five stats about Sheffield Utd and Preston’s play-off clash

Sheff Utd/Preston NE, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

1. Preston haven’t won on any of their last 12 visits to Bramall Lane.

2. Neither Sheffield United’s home points tally or Preston’s away haul were worthy of the play-offs, therefore both sides should find this encounter harder than the first.

3. Alan Irvine’s side won just five of their 26 away games this season but significantly they won their most recent two.

4. Despite their struggles on the road this season, Preston won away to both automatically promoted sides - Wolves and Birmingham.

5. Ten of the last 13 clashes between the two sides finished with under 2.5 goals.

Posted: May 11th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Birmingham, Sheff Utd and Reading fight for second

The battle for automatic promotion reaches a thrilling climax

The table above shows every possible scenario that can occur in the battle for second on Sunday and what team goes up in each eventuality.

Birmingham control their own destiny but after throwing away a 1-0 lead and losing at home to Preston last week, they must now win away at Reading. If they flop, Sheffield United will take second with a win away to former boss Neil Warnock’s Crystal Palace. If the Blades fail to win then Reading can win promotion by beating the Blues, having been six points behind a week ago.

Posted: May 1st, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Sheff Utd are 3.1 on Betfair to maintain their great away run

Burnley/Sheff Utd, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Since January 31, Sheffield United and Burnley have averaged more points per game than any other teams in the Championship, making this match a clash between the division’s two form sides. It’s a massively important one too as Burnley need three points to extend their advantage over Swansea and Preston while Sheffield United need at least a point to realistically maintain their chances of automatic promotion. Here are five stats about tonight’s huge Championship match:

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1. Sheffield United are unbeaten in fifteen away league games.

2. However, Burnley are yet to lose a home game against a fellow top six side, having held Birmingham and Cardiff and beaten Reading and Wolves.

3. The Blades have the best away defence in the league, having conceded just 16 goals in 21 games on the road. They have conceded two or more on just three occasions.

Posted: April 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why James Beattie may prove to be the signing of the season

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. Has any January signing made as big an impact as James Beattie? Over the last eight games only the Big Four have taken more points than Stoke. Beattie has scored six goals from ten starts which is a huge contribution considering relegation rivals Middlesbrough, spearheaded by £12.7 million striker Afonso Alves, have managed a combined four goals in their last ten.

2. The impact Beattie has made at Stoke makes Sheffield United’s performance without him even more remarkable. The Blades have been the best team in the Championship since January 12, the day they sold Beattie, and they could climb up to second with victory over Barnsley tomorrow if Birmingham lose to Wolves tonight.

3. The most impressive aspect of the Yorkshire club’s climb up the table has been their away form. Kevin Blackwell’s side haven’t been beaten on the road in fourteen league games.

4. Manchester United have conceded ten goals in five league games since their record-breaking run of fourteen consecutive clean sheets was ended.

5. After Aston Villa’s latest defeat they are only three points better off than they were at this stage last season.

Posted: April 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Will the Premier League shut the door on Sheffield United?

Blades 20/1 to be refused promotion with Paddy Power

(Photo Credit: Neil Tingle/PA Wire)

Sheffield United have stepped up their fight for fairness in football this week. As well as coming one step closer to denying West Ham the chance to appeal a flawed verdict that could bankrupt their club, the Blades have attempted to draw a line on the Iain Hume incident.

A Sheffield legal expert has argued that it’s impossible to calculate the importance of one player to a team, apparently ignorant to the fact they have done the same thing with regards to Carlos Tevez and West Ham.

Right now the Yorkshire club are the only ones who aren’t fed up with hearing about “Tevezgate” but if the matter isn’t resolved by the end of the season, it could even become a hindrance to themselves.

Posted: November 28th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment