Sheffield United vs Cardiff predictions: Bluebirds to boost survival hopes
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- Third-placed Sheffield United are five points behind both Leeds and Burnley
- Cardiff are a point away from safety
- Recommended bet: Double chance - Draw or Cardiff
Two teams battling at different ends of the Championship table meet at Bramall Lane on Good Friday when promotion-chasing Sheffield United host relegation-threatened Cardiff.
The Blades find themselves five points behind both top-of-the-table Leeds and Burnley in second with four matches remaining and Chris Wilder's side look like they will have to earn a place in the Premier League via the play-offs.
Cardiff are fighting hard to avoid relegation to League One and they are currently one point from safety heading into the Easter period.
Team news
The Blades will once again have to make do without the injured quartet of Harry Clarke, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Tom Davies and Oliver Arblaster.
Cardiff's Joe Ralls is expected to miss the rest of the season with a calf injury and he joins Jak Alnwick, who tore his hamstring in February, in the treatment room.
The Bluebirds are also set to be without the services of Aaron Ramsey, Anwar El-Ghazi and Andy Rinomhota.
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The stats
United have suffered three defeats in a row, losing at Oxford and Plymouth either side of a home loss to Millwall.
The Blades have won two, lost two and drawn one of their last five matches at Bramall Lane.
Wilder's side boast the joint second-best home record in the Championship, with their tally of 45 points bettered only by Leeds (52).
Cardiff's four-game unbeaten streak came to an end last time out, losing 1-0 at home to Stoke.
The Bluebirds have collected five points from the last nine on offer away from home, beating Blackburn before securing draws at QPR and Preston.
Prediction
United seemed to have automatic promotion in the palm of their hands a couple of weeks ago, but the twists and turns of the unpredictable Championship have truly hit the Blades with three defeats in a row.
The fact two of these losses came against teams battling to avoid relegation is a damning assessment of how quickly the Steel City outfit's form has dropped off and it looks like a tall order for them to finish in the top two.
While the Blades may have to start thinking about the play-offs, Cardiff are still fighting hard to avoid dropping down a division and they will be disappointing after the defeat to Stoke last time out.
Head coach Omer Riza will demand a quick response from his side and he could get that in this away trip, especially as the Bluebirds are on a three-game unbeaten run on their travels.
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