Sheffield United vs Preston predictions: Sharp Blades to maintain promotion pursuit
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- Sheffield United have won eight of their last 10 league games
- Preston have won only three of their 17 away matches this season
- Recommended bet: Sheffield United to win to nil
Last Saturday’s 2-1 victory at QPR has put Sheffield United back to within three points of Championship leaders Leeds and the Blades will be hoping to heap the pressure on their title rivals with another win at home to Preston on Saturday.
The victory over Rangers was the perfect response to going down 3-1 at home to Leeds in their previous outing, and means Chris Wilder’s side have claimed maximum points in eight of their last 10 Championship clashes.
Preston, meanwhile, sit mid-table in the Championship and with little at stake for them in terms of either promotion or relegation they may already be focusing on their big FA Cup quarter-final tie at home to Aston Villa later this month.
North End have failed to win in four league games, drawing on three occasions, and their poor away form suggests they will be in for a stern test at Bramall Lane.
Team news
Hosts Sheffield United remain without Sai Sachdev and Alfie Gilchrist, while Harry Clarke is a major doubt having missed the win at QPR.
For Preston, Duane Holmes and Ben Whiteman are long-term absentees, while Jordan Storey and Jack Whatmough also remain sidelined.
Meanwhile, midfielder Ali McCann is an injury doubt having been substituted in Tuesday’s goalless draw at home to Swansea.
The stats
Sheffield United have won each of their last three league games against Preston.
PNE have failed to win any of their last seven league games against Sheffield United since a 1-0 success at Bramall Lane in April 2018.
The Blades have won eight of their last 10 league games and have triumphed in 12 of their 17 outings at Bramall Lane in the league this season.
Ben Brereton has contributed to five goals in his last six Championship starts for Sheffield United and has scored or assisted in his last five meetings against Preston.
Preston have won only three of their 17 away league games this season, suffering eight defeats.
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Both teams have scored in eight of Sheffield United’s last 12 league matches.
Prediciton
With 11 games to go, Sheffield United are within three points of Championship leaders Leeds and they know that any setbacks could be fatal to their title aspirations.
The Blades are certainly rising to the pressure, having won eight of their last 10 league games, and they should have too much quality for a Preston side that have the distraction of an FA Cup quarter-final with Aston Villa later this month on their minds.
North End, who find themselves in mid-table mediocrity, have failed to win any of their last four league games and they also have the disadvantage of having had a midweek engagement while Sheffield United were resting and preparing for this encounter.
So the Blades should make the most of home advantage and they are taken to win to nil, with a possibility of them replicating their 2-0 success away at Deepdale in August.
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