Sheffield United vs. Southampton – EPL, March 6, 2021

A rare win for Sheffield United in midweek has given the Blades ideas that all hope is not quite lost as it looks to climb off of the bottom of the league in the coming weeks.

A struggling Southampton might be just the kind of opponent Blades boss Chris Wilder will be looking forward to, as his side attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Southampton may not have won a game since the first week of January, but BetOnline still favors the Saints over the home side for this one on Saturday. I think that reading of the game lends more value to the draw and home win bets – even with Sheffield United’s terrible record this season.

Sheffield United was forced to play the last half hour of its game against Aston Villa on Wednesday with ten men after Phil Jagielka was sent off. The decision seemed harsh, but the way the home side responded showed the kind of spirit that it needs if it is to have any chance of escaping the drop.

David McGoldrick had already scored the only goal of the game by then – and the Blades were able to hold on against a Villa team missing its most influential figure. The red card will have repercussions, though. Sheffield United was already missing its first choice backline through injury and will now need to dig even deeper into an already stretched squad.

Southampton has been dealing with its own injury crisis for quite a while now as well. Although its drop in form is also because of a lack of confidence brought about by the 9-0 mauling it received at the hands of Manchester United at the start of February. A narrow defeat to Everton on Monday made it nine games without a win now – and only one point taken from a possible 27.

That is relegation form shown by the Saints, but Ralph Hasenhuttl and his players may be saved by their good form earlier in the season – and the way that sides like Sheffield United have been playing all through the campaign. The tables do seem to have turned for this Saturday’s fixture, however.

With Southampton in a very sorry state – and Sheffield United picking up an invaluable three points on Wednesday – there will be a few people that put this down as a home win. But I think the absentees at the back for the Blades will tell in a game that ends up rewarding both sides with just the one point.