Sure Prediction For Today, Friday 10th January 2020

Having avoided the ignominy of elimination at the hands lower-league opponents last weekend, both Sheffield United and West Ham will be hope to carry their FA Cup momentum into the Premier League this week.

The Blades are without a win in three top-flight assignments having dropped points at home to Watford (1-1) and at title-chasing pair Man City (0-2) and Liverpool (0-2), though defeats to the latter two of the aforementioned trio weren’t unexpected.

The manner of United’s loss to Liverpool might have shaken some self-belief in the club’s ranks, however, though Chris Wilder will see a game against an inconsistent West Ham team as a major opportunity to re-straighten their path.

The Irons have enjoyed a positive start under reappointed manager David Moyes, winning each of their first two matches under his second tenure to nil against Bournemouth (4-0) in the Premier League and Gillingham (2-0) in the FA Cup.

Friday’s assignment at Bramall Lane is undoubtedly Moyes’ biggest test since his return to West Ham, however, and the Scot will have to find a way to reverse the away day problems he has inherited to carve out a positive result on Friday.

West Ham was turned over in four of their last six top-flight fixtures on the road, and the Irons found the net a paltry three times in total across that sextet of games.

With just six defeats in 21 Premier League matches since their promotion, Sheffield United remain one of the toughest nuts to crack in the division, and the Blades were beaten just once in their last six games on home turf.

Sheffield United and West Ham were well matched in their early-season encounter in London, sharing the spoils after a keenly contested 1-1 draw in the capital, though we think the Blades have the tools to carve out a victory in the return fixture on Friday.

United was beaten just three times in their last 14 Premier League games overall late September and having lost back-to-back fixtures against Man City and Liverpool, Chris Wilder’s charges will be desperate to get back into the groove at West Ham’s expense.

The Irons’ fragility on their travels is well established, and their underwhelming away record suggests they will find the going tough at Bramall Lane this week. With that considered, we think backing Sheffield United to win on Friday represents great value at the prices quoted, while our correct score prediction settles on a 2-1 Blades victory.

While their results have been impressive overall this term, Sheffield United lack the final third fluency to cut loose against anyone.

The Blades are averaging just 1.09 goals per 90 minutes of Premier League action this season, though United’s superb defensive performances tend to balance out their lack of attacking thrust.

Sheffield United currently holds the Premier League’s third-best defensive record and the Blades kept their visitors out in 50% of their last six games at Bramall Lane. We’re backing West Ham with a +2 Goals Handicap.