Saturday sees one former Premier League club take part in their first Championship fixture in seven years, as Bramall Lane plays host to Sheffield United v Swansea City.
Sheffield United enjoyed a great start to the 2017/18 season before running out of steam a little and ending the campaign in tenth place. Manager Chris Wilder expressed discontent over the club’s situation at board level several months ago, but despite fans’ fears he extended his contract in late May and remains in his post going into the new season.
Swansea, meanwhile, will be back in the Championship for the first time since the 2010-11 season following their relegation from the top flight. The new man in the dugout is Graham Potter, who last term took Swedish minnows Ostersunds to the Europa League knockout stages to earn a glamour tie against Arsenal.
These two sides have not met each other since that 2010-11 season, so little can be read into the head-to-head record. For what it is worth, though, the home side has won the last five meetings between the duo and lost none of the last six.
Read on for our Sheffield United v Swansea City stats, team news, predictions and betting tips, a match which will be live on SKYTV and kicks off at 17.30.
Sheffield United v Swansea City tips
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It has been a tough summer for new Swansea boss Potter, who has only been able to add five new faces and has a squad of just 27 players as things stand. Sheffield United won seven of their first eight at home last season, and Wilder will have it hammered home how important a fast start is, so we are siding with them there.
The Welsh outfit still have some talent going forward, so backing them to get on the score sheet and the Blades to win the fixture also looks sensible.
Sheffield United to win the game – 5/4
Sheffield United to win the game and both teams to score – 4/1
Odds correct at time of publishing (04/08/2018, 11:30)
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What can Sheffield United and Swansea City expect from the 18/19 Championship season?
After finishing tenth last season, bookmakers are expecting more of the same from the Blades and have them down as 11th favourites. Wilder will know that home form is key, and last season the Blades won 12 of 22 and lost only five in front of their own fans.
Their attack netted 62 times last season, the joint-tenth highest, 33 of which were scored at home while 29 came on the road. David McGoldrick has come in from Ipswich, where he netted just four times last season, though United will hope he can help fire them to the top six.
The defence conceded 55 times which has them as tenth best, though around two-thirds (35) of these did come on the road. John Egan from Brentford is one of three defenders to come in while goalkeeper Jordan Amissah was signed on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund.
As for the Swans, they are are joint-sixth favourites for promotion following their relegation from the Premier League last season. New head coach Potter has vowed to reinstate the possession-based ‘Swansea Way’ in the wake of more pragmatic approaches taken by Paul Clement, now at Reading, and Carlos Carvalhal, who left after taking the Jacks down in May.
Potter will need to find a regular goal-getter, as the 28 Swansea netted in the top flight last season was a joint-league low. Joel Asoro is one man they will have high hopes for. The Swedish teenage forward joins from Sunderland while Barrie McKay and Bersant Celina will also chip in.
Despite their relegation, Swansea had a mid-level defence and will hope to keep this strength despite the loss of keeper Lukasz Fabianski and centre-back Alfie Mawson, both key components in defence under Clement and Carvalhal.
Sheffield United v Swansea team news
This game may come too soon for Sheffield United pair Paul Coutts (broken leg) and Jake Wright (unknown).
For Swansea, Wilfried Bony (cruciate), Mike van der Hoorn (unknown), Leroy Fer (Achilles) and Sam Clucas (knee) are all set to miss out.
The post Sheffield United v Swansea City stats, team news, predictions and betting tips appeared first on Squawka News.
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