Sheffield United vs Watford EFL Championship prediction and stats: Home advantage to sharpen the Blades
Two unbeaten Championship teams clash on Sunday with Chris Wilder taking on one of his former clubs.
Neither Wilder nor the Watford fans are likely to remember his time at Watford with much fondness. It was a temporary role to see out the end of the season in 2023 and lasted only eleven matches, with only three wins achieved.
Now back at Sheffield United, it is hoped that Wilder’s alchemy with the club will improve both the manager, and the club’s, standing in the football establishment. The Blades have started the season well, having had to combat a two point deduction to begin with, and will look to overcome that penalty to win promotion back to the Premier League this season.
Watford are flying under Tom Cleverley. The former Manchester United and Everton player has taken his first managerial role and, with three wins out of three, has made the best start to a season that anyone could hope for.
Will both teams manage to emerge from this match still unbeaten or can either team get an important win on the board just before the first international break of the season?
How to watch Sheff Utd vs Watford live
This game will be broadcast live on Sunday 1st September at 3pm (UK time) on Sky Sports Football, as well as the new Sky Sports + app.
Three predictions for Sheff Utd vs Watford
Both teams to score (3/4 with Coral)
Sheffield United have seen this bet land in two of their three matches so far, and Watford have seen goals fly in at both ends since the beginning of the season as well. Indeed, Watford have scored eight goals and conceded three, two of their matches have seen BTTS land as well.
Gustavo Hamer Anytime Goalscorer (5/2 with Midnite)
The former Coventry schemer has been very dangerous in a Sheffield United shirt, and it is fairly surprising that he is still playing at Championship level. He has notched twice already this season, and with Callum O’Hare in the team taking some of the creatve burden away from Hamer, he is able to concentrate more on scoring goals himself. He managed nine at this level for Coventry, expect double figures this season.
Edo Kayembe 2+ shots (Odds not yet available)
The Watford midfielder has been used further forward in a #10 role by Tom Cleverley so far this season and the odds compilers are struggling to keep up with the shot volume. He averaged 1.8 shots per 90 last season, and currently that has gone up to over 2.1.
BetMGM sign-up offer: Get £40 in bonuses when you bet £10
Not signed up to BetMGM yet? Here's how eligible readers* can take advantage of their welcome offer:
- Open an account at BetMGM using this link.
- Select the Sports Welcome Offer.
- Get the offer from the ‘My Offers’ page.
- Deposit and place a £10 bet at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater.
- When it settles, unlock £40 in bonuses
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10+ at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Acca, 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Football, 1 x £10 Bet Builder. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.
How both teams go into Sheff Utd vs Watford
The home team are unbeaten with one win and two draws so far in the Championship season. After a very assurd looking opening day win against Preston, the Blades have given away a two goal lead at home to QPR, and also drawn 1-1 with fellow promotion contenders Norwich City at Carrow Road.
There is a fresh look about Sheff Utd, despite having a manager that has been synonymous with the club for years. There is a whole new defence to bed in, a young club captain in midfield, and a fresh impetus up front with Callum O’Hare, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, and Kieffer Moore working to get the goals. It all needs to come together quickly if Blades are to achieve their ambitions this season.
Watford are also feeling like a different club this season. This is mainly down to new management though, with Tom Cleverley in the dugout. There have been some new faces, but nowhere near the level of upheaval often seen at Watford under the Pozzos. This has possibly contributed to the excellent start to the season.
Watford are three wins from three so far, and though the fixture list has been fairly kind, this is a club that was tipped for trouble in some quarters before the season started, so it should still be classed as an unqualified success as a start. More will be found out about Watford in this match.
Sheffield United host Watford at Bramall Lane on Sunday 1st September at 3pm.
Sheff Utd team news
Team news will appear here closer to the kick-off.
Possible Sheff Utd XI: Cooper; Gilchrist, Trusty, Souttar, Burrows; Souza, Arblaster; Rak-Sakyi, O’Hare, Hamer; Moore.
Watford team news
Team news will appear here closer to the kick-off.
Possible Watford XI: Bachmann; Pollock, Sierralta, Morris; Andrews, Sissoko, Dele-Bashiru, Larouchi; Kayembe, Chakvetadze; Bayo.
Sheff Utd vs Watford head-to-head
This fixture has been relatively scarcely played in the last few years despite both teams being of relatively similar size and frequently playing in the top two divisions.
Last season spoils were shared, with the home teams winning each encounter by a single goal. The previous meetings to those were in the Premier League in 2019.
Watford had been unbeaten in six matches against Sheffield United prior to the Blades victory at Bramall Lane in February, but the Yorkshire side have had the edge overall in the fixture’s history, winning 30 to Watford’s 24.
| Sheff Utd vs Watford H2H | |||||||
| Date | Score | Ground | |||||
| 25/02/23 | Sheff Utd 1-0 Watford | Bramall Lane, Sheffield | |||||
| 01/08/22 | Watford 1-0 Sheff Utd | Vicarage Road, Watford | |||||
| 26/12/19 | Sheff Utd 1-1 Watford | Bramall Lane, Sheffield | |||||
| 05/10/19 | Watford 0-0 Sheff Utd | Vicarage Road, Watford | |||||
| 12/03/11 | Watford 3-0 Sheff Utd | Vicarage Road, Watford | |||||
| 02/10/10 | Sheff Utd 0-1 Watford | Bramall Lane, Sheffield | |||||
