Sheffield United vs Aston Villa Prediction and Betting Tips

Sheffield United host Aston Villa at Bramall Lane this Saturday in the late kick-off. The Blades desperately need a win to claw themselves off the bottom of the table whereas Villa are looking to secure themselves Champions League football.

• Aston Villa to win @ ½ on William Hill
• Under 2.5 goals @ 5/4 on Paddy Power
• Both teams to score @ 7/10 on William Hill

These odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Despite making it to double-figure points, Sheffield United still need a big win this weekend to close in on safety. However, Aston Villa need the three-point haul this weekend to maintain a three-point buffer over Tottenham.

Sheffield United currently sit bottom of the Premier League after 21 games. The Blades have two wins, four draws and 15 losses, leaving them on just ten points, two points from Burnley and seven points from safety.

The Blades have faltered on both fronts this season. In 21 games, Sheffield United have only managed 17 goals, making them the only team in the league with an average of less than one goal a game. At the other end of the pitch, The Blades have conceded 51 goals and have kept just one clean sheet.

Aston Villa, on the other hand, currently sit fourth in the Premier League. In 21 games, Villa have 13 wins, four draws and four losses which leaves them on 43 points, equal with Manchester City and Arsenal and three points above Tottenham.

Villa have been amongst the goals this season, having scored 43 goals in 21 games, giving them an average of 2.05 goals a game. Unai Emery’s men have been just as successful in defence, only conceding 27 goals and keeping five clean sheets.

This will be the 140th meeting between Sheffield United and Aston Villa, with the first meeting coming all the way back in 1893. Aston Villa have the far better record in the fixture with 64 wins in comparison to Sheffield United’s 41 wins, the other 34 meetings ending in a draw.

In the last five games in the fixture, there have been two Sheffield United wins, two draws and one Aston Villa win. This has been a low-scoring fixture of recent, with no game with more than two goals since 2019.

Chris Wilder has Chris Basham out until the end of the season and will also be missing John Egan and George Baldock through injury along with Rhian Brewster through suspension. However, Max Lowe and Tom Davies could return this weekend.

Emery also has players out until the end of the season with Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings both out. Jhon Duran and Pau Torres will likely miss out this weekend but Lucas Digne and Jacob Ramsey could return. Bertrand Traore is also still away with international duty.

In their last five games in all competitions, Sheffield United have one win, one draw and three losses.

The clash with Luton Town saw Alfie Doughty’s goal give Luton the 1 - 0 lead at halftime. Oli McBurnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic scored in quick succession after the 60-minute mark to give Sheffield United the lead. However, an own goal from Jack Robinson and an own goal from Anis Ben Slimane gave Luton the 3 - 2 win.

The next time out saw The Blades take on top of the league Manchester City. Rodri grabbed a goal in the first 15 minutes and Julian Alvarez scored in the second half to secure the 2 - 0 win for City with The Blades only managing 19% of the possession.

In the Third Round of the FA Cup, Sheffield United took on League Two Gillingham. The Gills only had 30% of the possession and one shot on target as William Osula and James McAtee both picked up braces in the 4 - 0 win for Sheffield United.

Back in the Premier League, it was a feisty clash against West Ham. Maxwell Cornet gave West Ham the lead but Ben Brereton Diaz equalised a minute before the halftime whistle. The second half saw two penalties and two red cards.

James Ward-Prowse regained the lead for The Hammers, but following the red cards to Brewster and Vladimir Coufal, McBurnie’s 103rd-minute penalty grabbed a 2 - 2 draw for The Blades.

The FA Cup Fourth Round saw an all-Premier League clash with Brighton. Facundo Buonanotte and Joao Pedro gave Brighton an early 2 - 0 lead, but goals from Gustavo Hamer and Osula levelled the game before halftime. However, in the second half Pedro completed his hat-trick and was joined on the scoresheet by Danny Welbeck in the 5 - 2 win for The Seagulls.

Sheffield United face Crystal Palace in a midweek Premier League clash.

In their last five games in all competitions, Aston Villa have two wins, two draws and one loss.

Boxing Day saw John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker give Villa the 2 - 0 lead over Manchester United in the first half. However, a brace from Alejandro Garnacho and a goal from Rasmus Hojlund gave United the 3 - 2 win.

The next time out saw Aston Villa on the right side of a 3 - 2 scoreline, this time against Burnley. Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby gave Villa the 2 - 1 lead at halftime, with Zeki Amdouni on the scoresheet for Burnley. Despite the red card to Sander Berge, Burnley was next on the scoresheet through Lyle Foster. However, an 89th-minute penalty from Douglas Luiz gave Villa the 3 - 2 win.

In the Third Round of the FA Cup, Villa took on Championship Middlesbrough. Matty Cash scored the only goal of the game in the 87th minute to give Villa the 1 - 0 win.

Despite having 16 shots with five of them on target and 69% of the possession, Aston Villa were unable to find the back of the net and had to settle for a 0 - 0 draw against Everton.

In the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, Villa faced Chelsea. There were only a total of nine shots on target across both teams as once again Villa played out a 0 - 0 draw.

Aston Villa take on Newcastle in the midweek in the Premier League.

Sheffield United desperately need the win, but when faced with the powerhouse Villa from this season, it’s not likely to swing their way. We predict: Sheffield United 1-3 Aston Villa.

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Sheffield United vs Aston Villa will be broadcasted on Sky Sports Main Event and can be followed via radio on BBC Five Live.

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