Sheffield United v Coventry City predictions and tips: Blades on their knees as Cov spring surprise

The Blades can pull three clear of Leeds United with a win on Friday, if only temporarily, when they welcome high-flying Coventry.

The Sky Blues are the form team in the Championship, having won 10 of 12 matches, with their only defeats coming against a red-hot Leeds United, and Derby County on an off day.

Chris Wilder’s side hasn’t done badly either, as they’ve won seven of nine contests, collapsing late in the day against Leeds and conceding in injury time against Bristol City.

 

Sheffield United v Coventry City betting tips

Coventry City to win - 13/5

Both teams to score - 4/5

More free football betting tips from Planet Sport

 

Sheffield United v Coventry City betting preview

Despite Sheffield United's magnificent run of form, it’s hard to argue that they’ve picked up more points than their performances have deserved at times.

Portsmouth and Luton arguably let them off the hook by not taking their chances, but that’s also a part of what makes United so good this season.

Even when they aren’t firing on all cylinders, and there’s evidence to show they’re not as potent an attack as the majority of the top eight sides, they are a match defensively, and that allows them to hang around in games and find a way.

We’ll be surprised if Frank Lampard’s side lets them off the hook so easily. Part of the reason Mark Robins’ sacking was so cruel was, not only where they struggling with injuries, but the underlying numbers were those of a play-off team.

Lampard has helped unlock that potential, as only Leeds and Middlesbrough are producing a higher xG and a higher volume of big chances on the road this season.

The only teams putting up better defensive numbers are Burnley, Leeds and the Blades. Simply put, Cov would be fourth in the table and just a win away from the top two if their points tally matched the potential of their performances this season.

The winning run under Lampard has been a dramatic levelling-off of a team that sorely underperformed for so long, so it isn’t surprising, and it absolutely can continue.

On the other hand, we respect the fact that Wilder’s team could go through the gears and find a way to make this a comfortable evening, but we’ve seen very little of that of late.

We’re at the stage of the season where each of the top three has started to slip up on a more regular basis in recent weeks, and this has the obvious look of a game where an upset is possible.

You’ll be paying the top-three tax to back the Blades on Friday, so look toward the visitors who are priced around 13/5 yet should be a 2/1 shot by our reckoning.

 

If you’re not feeling quite that adventurous, both teams to score is an option worth considering at 4/5.

That’s been a winning bet in four of five at Bramall Lane, and with both attacks fully healthy, and the hosts slightly light in the midfield department given the absence of Vinicius Souza, it should land again.

 

 

READ MORE: Friday's free football accumulator tips

*****

How do we create our tips?

Planet Sport has a rich history of providing quality, engaging and creative user-friendly content across a wide range of sports.

The Planet Sport team has more than twenty years’ experience working in the sports industry and use their knowledge, experience and statistical analysis to bring you the very best tips possible.

We specialise in clear, informative, data-driven tips, predictions and guides that will steer you in the right direction, whether you are a part-time bettor or consider yourself a bit of a pro.

Our experts have worked across some of the biggest and much-loved sites across the Planet Sport network, including Football365, TEAMtalk, PlanetF1.com, Planet Rugby, Planet Football, Tennis 365 and Love Rugby League.