Promotion hopefuls may cancel each other out

Sky Bet Championship
Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 7.45pm Friday

It is more than three months since Sheffield United defeated one of the Sky Bet Championship's top ten teams and the Blades may struggle to cut down promotion rivals West Brom in south Yorkshire.

With leaders Norwich and second-placed Leeds piling up the points, there is pressure on the chasing pack to target victories this weekend.

But matches between the top teams are often tight affairs and there is a good chance of a stalemate between third-placed United and fifth-placed Albion, who are only a point apart in the table.

West Brom got away with a 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa last Friday, benefiting from an injury-time equaliser diverted into the net by Jay Rodriguez's right arm.

It stretched their unbeaten run to five games but the performance was unconvincing.

Albion were content to play on the counter-attack, as they have done on numerous occasions this season, but Villa created by far the better chances and were more disappointed with the outcome.

The Baggies' obvious strength is their three-pronged attack of Dwight Gayle, Rodriguez and Harvey Barnes, who have amassed league tallies of ten, ten and eight.

Their combined total (28 goals) is higher than 14 other teams in the division and their quality is something Sheffield United may have to factor into the game-plan.

The default tactical approach of Sheffield United is to play on the front foot and give players licence to support the attack at every opportunity.

Even the right and left-sided centre-backs – Chris Basham and Jack O'Connell – have freedom to push forward in open play and often do so to great effect.

Basham has notched three goals this season and Enda Stevens, the left wing-back, has contributed five assists.

However, it can be risky to allow defenders freedom to play high up the pitch and there may be a temptation for Chris Wilder to modify his approach and pay a little extra respect to opponents who boast arguably the best front three outside the top flight.

The downside of being more cautious is that Sheffield United are less likely to put pressure on Albion's weakness – their shaky back four.

West Brom have the second-worst defensive record in the top ten, shipping 30 goals in 21 games, and could do with signing at least one dominant central defender and perhaps a right-back (Manchester City loanee Tosin Adarabioyo has been playing out of position) in the January transfer window.

Until then Darren Moore's focus will be to lose as few games as possible and his team can show their mettle by digging out a precious point in the Steel City.

Recommendation
Draw
1pt 13-5 bet365, Sky Bet

Bet on this match at soccerbase.com

Sky Bet Championship standings

Team news
Sheffield United
Leon Clarke and Ben Woodburn have shaken off minor injuries and could return to the squad.

West Brom
Hal Robson-Kanu, Kyle Bartley (both knee) and James Morrison (muscle strain) face late fitness tests.

Key stat
Sheffield United have won only two of eight matches against teams in the top ten.

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