- Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last 5 (3 wins, 2 draws), they have won 5 of their last 7 away in all competitions (2 draws, 0 defeats), scoring 12 goals on their travels.
- Blackburn Rovers are not unbeaten in their last 5 (2 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat).
- Blackburn Rovers are winless in their last 2 home games against Sheffield United in the Championship (1 draw, 1 defeat), so the visitors know how to spoil the hosts' party at Ewood Park.
Blunt Rovers and Blades may have to settle for a draw
Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United meet in an early Championship barometer on Tuesday, in which Chris Wilder's Blades are narrowly favoured over Tony Mowbray's Rovers.
Sheffield United are 77/50 for the win on Tuesday evening, against 33/20 for Rovers, which looks a bit of a puzzle because it suggests the bookmakers feel Rovers are at home advantage. However, the Blades have the recent advantage in the H2H, having avoided defeat on their 2 trips to Ewood Park, and are in much better form than Rovers at the moment.
Blackburn's last 10 results across all competitions read: won 4, drawn 4 and lost 2, so they are a solid if unspectacular team. But Mowbray's side are not in the same class as Wilder's Sheffield United, who are on a roll, so Rovers are definitely second best at the moment.
Wilder’s Blades have an away edge
Chris Wilder has got the Blades playing in a more intense, front-foot manner, pressing high up the pitch and transitioning quickly, while Tony Mowbray's men prefer to control possession, use the width and exploit set-piece opportunities.
So this will be a contest between possession and width v pressure and transition, which the side who get on top of the tempo battle will dominate. Rovers are a patient side that can go from build-up to break in quick time if they have the ball and width, but there will be an element of frustration if the game gets stuck in their half.
Sheffield United's two most recent results saw them win 0-3 away at Mansfield Town in the EFL Cup, and draw 0-0 at home to Birmingham City in the Championship. Rovers' most recent games saw them defeat Burton Albion 1-2 away in the EFL Cup, and they drew 2-2 away to Wolverhampton in the league.
Rovers are a good value to avoid defeat
In conclusion, I believe the odds are on the side of Sheffield United because they are a better football team right now and more likely to come out on top of this fixture. But I will recommend a draw because Rovers are a very solid side that are more than capable of frustrating the game for 90 minutes.
The draw can be backed at 47/20, while the Under 2.5 goals market at 93/100 looks a little on the short side for what is likely to be a tight, tense affair. Rovers have conceded two in their two home games in the Championship so far, so they should be able to keep things tight against the more patient Blades.
Blackburn's most recent win in the head-to-head came 3 months ago when they beat Sheffield United 3-1 away in the Championship, but Sheffield United have won 1 of the last 3 and drawn 1. So the overall view is for a close fixture, but the unbeaten Blades edge out Rovers to avoid defeat.
