Blackburn v Sheffield Utd: Prediction, predicted line-ups and betting tips

Blackburn have won one of their last six games in all competitions and go into this one on the back of three defeats in their last four. Sheffield United arrive having drawn three of their last five, a run that has kept them just about competitive without threatening a run of victories. Ewood Park has not been a happy hunting ground for the home side this term, with two defeats from three there already.

Blackburn's form line reads DWLDLL across their opening six matches, good for a single win, two draws and three defeats. They have scored seven goals and conceded nine, and have failed to keep a clean sheet at home all season. Their underlying numbers back up the shaky start: an average expected goals figure of just 0.8 a game from their last six fixtures, against 1.69 conceded.

The one bright spot has been Blackburn's control of the ball. They have averaged 53.2% possession across their last six matches and out-shot opponents at a rate of 11.17 attempts per game. The problem is conversion. Only four of those shots a game have tested the goalkeeper, and just five of their six matches have gone over 1.5 goals scored by Blackburn alone.

Sheffield United's numbers tell a different story. They have averaged just 41.6% of the ball across their last five games but have generated a healthier expected goals figure of 1.21 a match, more than Blackburn's home average of 1.3 goals scored suggests they should concede. Two clean sheets from five outings and only three shots on target conceded a game point to a side set up to frustrate first and hurt on the break second.

Blackburn's underlying form (one win, two draws, three defeats) is papering over a genuine problem in front of goal, with just seven scored across six games. Sheffield United's shape (one win, three draws, one defeat from five) looks steadier on paper, built on defensive solidity rather than firepower. The widget below lays out both runs match by match, and the trend that jumps out is how few of either side's recent games have been settled by more than a single goal.

Neither side features among the pace-setters at the top of the Championship. West Brom lead the way on 13 points from six games, with West Ham, Swansea, QPR and Charlton all on 11 points and Middlesbrough and Bristol City on 10 from five. Blackburn's tally of five points from six games and Sheffield United's six points from five leave both sides needing a run of results simply to get back in touch with that group.

A win here matters more to Blackburn given how far off the early pace they already are. Sheffield United, by contrast, can afford patience. A draw keeps their unbeaten home run of sorts alive without derailing anything, while a win would be the platform to start closing the gap on the top seven.

Full historical head-to-head figures were not available for this fixture, so the widget below should be read as a snapshot rather than the complete record between two clubs with a long shared history in English football's second tier.

Without the full series of meetings to lean on, the more useful guide is current form. Blackburn's home defensive record this season, no clean sheets in three matches at Ewood Park, sits awkwardly against a Sheffield United side who have shown they can keep things tight on the road. That points to a cagey affair rather than a repeat of any historic pattern.

The biggest gap between these two sides is territorial. Blackburn have controlled 53.2% of possession on average this season against Sheffield United's 41.6%, and it shows in the corner count too, Blackburn winning 5.83 a game to Sheffield United's 3.8. But Sheffield United have conceded 7.2 corners a game themselves, a sign they are happy to sit in and absorb pressure rather than compete for the ball high up the pitch.

That contrast, Blackburn's control against Sheffield United's discipline without it, is likely to define the contest. If Blackburn cannot turn territory into shots on target, a figure that sits at just four a game, Sheffield United's compact shape should hold.

This fixture kicked off at 19:45 BST and was shown on Sky Sports, with a stream also available via Sky Sports+ for subscribers. Championship coverage this season runs primarily through Sky's family of channels, alongside ITV's competition-level rights, so viewers without access should check those platforms first for any repeat or highlights package.

The value here is in the under markets rather than backing either side to win comfortably. Blackburn's shot conversion has been poor all season and Sheffield United have built their campaign on defensive solidity, so the goals markets and a low-scoring correct score look the shrewder routes in than the result itself.