Sheffield United vs Watford
26th December 1500hrs
Football – England– Premier League
Pick Both teams to score NO
Bookmaker Marathonbet
Odds: 21/25 odds taken 2000 GMT, Wednesday 25 December)
It’s been contrasting fortunes for Sheffield and Watford so far this season. The Blades have been excellent on their return to the top-flight whilst their opponents have been bottom of the table for much of the campaign.
Premier League Betting at Marathonbet
Sheffield United vs Watford Live Stats & Betting Odds
Sheffield United Preview – Can Blades continue their excellent run and make it four straight wins?
The story of the season so far has arguably been Sheffield United. Since winning promotion from the Championship, the Blades have went from strength to strength and come into their Boxing Day clash at home to Watford on the back of three straight wins. Saturday’s victory away to Brighton came after defeating Norwich and Aston Villa, both of whom were also promoted to the top-flight this season. With Villa and Norwich finding themselves in the bottom three at Christmas, it makes Sheffield United’s current position of fifth all that more remarkable. If results go their way they could even be in the top four heading into 2020 which would have been unthinkable at the start of the season.
Only two teams have better defensive records in the Premier League this season than Wilder’s side – Liverpool and Leicester – the current top two. It’s an obvious strength of this Blades’ team and one that looks like they can sustain due to the innovative and flexible tactics. Wilder will be aware that the second half of campaigns can be more challenging for promoted teams as opposition managers begin to figure them out. There is no indication that will be the case here with Wilder proving himself so adept at his first crack of coaching at this level.
Watford Preview – Will Watford build on weekend win over United and creep closer to the the teams above them in the table?
It’s been a dismal campaign for Watford in the main. Nigel Pearson was brought in earlier this month as their third manager of the season so far and tasked with trying to lead the team to safety. There is also the thought that Watford are already preparing for life in the Championship next season but Sunday’s win at home to Manchester United (just their second of the season so far) has given them more hope they could yet find a way out of the mire. The Hornets are currently six points adrift of safety and it’s looking more likely that it’s three teams from themselves, Norwich, Villa and Southampton who will fill the relegation spots.
Pearson knows that one game is not going to make a significant difference to their hopes of survival but if his team can string together a run of good results then they are right back in the hunt. Saturday’s game at home to Villa is already standing out as being hugely important for both clubs but Pearson will just be targeting this match as one where any result would be seen as a big positive. Performances against both Liverpool and United have been much better than what’s come before and that should instill confidence ahead of this trip.
Key-Facts – Sheffield United vs Watford
- Sheffield United have enjoyed a stunning return to the Premier League with three straight wins putting them in fifth spot ahead of this game
- Watford won just their second game of the season when beating Manchester United at the weekend to give them renewed hope of staying up
- It was goalless draw when these teams met at Vicarage Road earlier this season – one of nine games where Watford have failed to score
Sheffield United vs Watford Betting Advice
There was nothing to separate these two when they met earlier in the season at Vicarage Road. It was one of nine games where Watford have drawn a blank and that’s undoubtedly been the biggest problem for them this season. They are the lowest scorers in the league, scoring four fewer than the second lowest scorers. There’s been no such issues for the home team who have responded brilliantly to that surprise loss at home to Newcastle at the beginning of the month.
Only one team has scored in seven of Sheffield United’s nine home games so far this season. That’s a trend that has occurred in six of Watford’s nine away games, too. As such, the selection for this game is No in the both teams to score market.
