League 1: Sheffield United -Colchester United
This is another match where I cannot agree with the odds, but this time I am firmly behind the hosts. United are 4-0-2, all games have been decisive with the four wins and two defeats all coming by at least two goals which is unusual, the Blades are coming off a 3-1 home defeat to Bury at the weekend, but dominated that game and on another day would have won by a couple of goals. They will be very motivated to get back on track , not least as they face back to back Yorkshire derby games after this, starting with a massive trip to Bradford City on Sunday in front of the television cameras. They desperately need maximum points this evening.
Squad size and fitness levels, boss Nigel Adkins works his teams as hard as anyone outside the top two divisions, should give United an advantage with the quick turnaround and he is certainly not underestimating Colchester, despite them not having posted a win yet, he has had them watched several times and gave a very detailed and good report on the U's on the Blades website yesterday. The visitors are operating on a different level to the hosts and have tight bedgetry restraints, they have conceded four in their last 12 competitive starts and the three they shipped at Chesterfield on Saturday give real cause for concern, as the Spirites played over 75 minutes with ten men and United only equalised very late when the home side just ran out of energy. Trips to Chesterfield and Sheffield United back to back are tough regardless of how many men they faced at the weekend and they conceded seven to Sheffield United in two defeats last season, losing 4-1 here in February.
If the hosts win, the handicap should not be an issue, so .....
Sheffield United -1 ball 2.25 asian line/ Sportmarket.
This is another match where I cannot agree with the odds, but this time I am firmly behind the hosts. United are 4-0-2, all games have been decisive with the four wins and two defeats all coming by at least two goals which is unusual, the Blades are coming off a 3-1 home defeat to Bury at the weekend, but dominated that game and on another day would have won by a couple of goals. They will be very motivated to get back on track , not least as they face back to back Yorkshire derby games after this, starting with a massive trip to Bradford City on Sunday in front of the television cameras. They desperately need maximum points this evening.
Squad size and fitness levels, boss Nigel Adkins works his teams as hard as anyone outside the top two divisions, should give United an advantage with the quick turnaround and he is certainly not underestimating Colchester, despite them not having posted a win yet, he has had them watched several times and gave a very detailed and good report on the U's on the Blades website yesterday. The visitors are operating on a different level to the hosts and have tight bedgetry restraints, they have conceded four in their last 12 competitive starts and the three they shipped at Chesterfield on Saturday give real cause for concern, as the Spirites played over 75 minutes with ten men and United only equalised very late when the home side just ran out of energy. Trips to Chesterfield and Sheffield United back to back are tough regardless of how many men they faced at the weekend and they conceded seven to Sheffield United in two defeats last season, losing 4-1 here in February.
If the hosts win, the handicap should not be an issue, so .....
Sheffield United -1 ball 2.25 asian line/ Sportmarket.
