Eng. Championship
2018-12-22 - Ipswich Town vs Sheffield United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Saturday 22nd December 2018 - Kick Off 3pm
Ipswich Town
Paul Lambert guided Ipswich Town to their first win under his management but there is still a lot of work for the manager to do if he wants to keep this club in the Championship. For all the fans that wanted to get rid of Mick McCarthy as manager last season, this campaign is proving to be the worst case scenario for them, while Lambert has experienced more negatives than positives in his recent managerial roles.
The win over Wigan Athletic means Ipswich Town remain in bottom place in the Championship table, but they are now back to within 5 points of the safety zone in the Division. It was the first home League win of the season for Ipswich Town who now have a 1-6-4 record at Portman Road where they have scored 10 goals and conceded 15.
Ipswich Town had not won any of 9 League games and they had lost 4 in a row to slump to the bottom of the Division, but those runs were snapped in the 1-0 win last Saturday. They had previously lost 4 of 5 at Portman Road in the League and The Tractor Boys had conceded at least two goals in each of those losses.
Sheffield United
Over the last month Sheffield United have lost a couple of home games in unfortunate manner and that has seen them just drop away from the pace set by the leaders of the Championship. The away form has remained strong and Chris Wilder will be looking for his players to bounce back from the home loss to West Brom and make sure the fans enjoy the taste of their Christmas dinners.
The Blades were beaten by a promotion rival to drop to 5th in the Championship table and they are now 7 points behind Norwich City in the second automatic promotion spot. In recent weeks Sheffield United have improved their away record to 6-1-4 which means they have won more away games than at home.
Sheffield United have lost 2 of their last 3 League games and those defeats have sandwiched the win over Reading at the Majedski Stadium. The side head into this weekend knowing they are unbeaten in their last 3 away games and Sheffield United have scored at least two goals in each of those games while winning 2 in a row at Brentford and Reading.
Head to Head
Sheffield United took four points from Ipswich Town in the League last season.
The game at Portman Road finished goalless, but Sheffield United did win 0-1 here in the FA Cup.
Ipswich Town have won 1 of their last 7 home games against Sheffield United and their visitors have won on 2 of their last 4 visits.
Prediction
After losing the Yorkshire derby to Leeds United, Sheffield United bounced back with a strong performance and won at Reading and Chris Wilder will be looking for a similar response to yet another home loss last week.
Sheffield United have not played badly in either game they have lost at Bramall Lane this month, but Wilder will be keen to make sure his players don't lose confidence and hit a prolonged run of poor form which cost them a Play Off spot last season.
They are the favourites to win at Portman Road this weekend, but Ipswich Town have to be feeling better after snapping a 9 game run without a win by beating Wigan Athletic last Saturday. Paul Lambert would have been happy with the result, but Ipswich Town were a little fortunate and they can't afford to offer the chances to this Sheffield United team that they did to Wigan Athletic.
Last season the two games here were not filled with entertainment, but Sheffield United look better this time around. I feel ok backing them considering the recent form and ability to bounce back from setbacks that Sheffield United have shown and I do think The Blades will be too good for Ipswich Town here.
With the goals Sheffield United have scored, I think they have enough to put the distance between them and Ipswich Town and I will back the visitors to win a game featuring two or more goals.
The Pick :
Ipswich Town 0-2 Sheffield United
