Blackpool v Sheffield United predictions: Blades can maintain title challenge

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Blackpool v Sheffield United in the Championship on Thursday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football, 8.15pm Thursday

Best bet

Sheffield United
1pt 5-6 general

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Team news

Blackpool
Jordan Thorniley is suspended and Jordan Gabriel, Kevin Stewart, Lewis Fiorini, Keshi Anderson, Liam Bridcutt and Theo Corbeanu remain injured.

Sheffield United
John Egan serves a suspension, Rhys Norrington-Davis, Jack Robinson, Jack O'Connell and Rhian Brewster are injured and Oli McBurnie is a doubt after missing the Boxing Day victory over Coventry.

Match preview

Second-placed Sheffield United are the only team who appear capable of giving leaders Burnley a run for their money in the Championship title race and they can draw level on points with the Clarets by beating struggling Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

The vast majority of second-tier sides have been dogged by inconsistency but Paul Heckingbottom's Blades have won seven of their last eight games to open up an eight-point gap to third-placed Blackburn.

Securing automatic promotion is United's top priority and they will be looking to heap added pressure on to the chasing pack by taking maximum points from trips to Blackpool and QPR over the next five days.

The early months of the season were far from plain sailing for the Blades, whose options were frequently reduced by a lengthy injury list.

But the World Cup break afforded time for several senior players to recover and there was a freshness about United's performance on Boxing Day as they registered a 3-1 success at home to playoff hopefuls Coventry.

While the Blades have cultivated a winning habit, injury-ravaged Blackpool are relieved to have put together a run of three consecutive draws which has kept them in touch with relegation rivals.

The Seasiders had lost four game on the trot before the World Cup, so the sequence of stalemates have at least steadied the ship.

However, Michael Appleton's side have not tasted victory since a late-October 2-1 triumph at Coventry and their tussle with title hopefuls United is unlikely to bring about a change in fortunes.