TipResumen

SHEFFIELD UNITED

Chris Wilder is well loved by the Sheffield United fans who recognise the manager is someone like them as a big time fan of the club who wants the best for them. That means the fans are likely to always be behind Wilder even when Sheffield United hit a couple of rough patches like they have to open the new season. The Blades were very unfortunate in losing 1-2 to Swansea City on the opening weekend and then had a little hangover from that result which saw them down 3-0 at Middlesbrough in the first half. At least they were able to come from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers last weekend, but Sheffield United exited the League Cup on penalties during the week to compound what has been a rough start to the 2018/19 campaign. Sheffield United's League Cup defeat came after a 1-1 draw with Hull City in normal time and means they have won just 2 of their last 8 games in all competitions. They may have won an impressive 12 League games at Bramall Lane last season, but Sheffield United have now failed to win any of their last 4 on this ground in all competitions.



NORWICH CITY

Daniel Farke was appointed as Norwich City manager fifteen months ago and the hope was he could rekindle the fortunes of this club as David Wagner had done for Huddersfield Town. Both Farke and Wagner came out of the Borussia Dortmund coaching school, but the former has not really been able to implement his ideas with as much success as Wagner was able to do in Yorkshire. All in all it means Farke is under some pressure to put some results together for a Norwich City club hoping to return to the Premier League having been relegated from the top flight in the 2015/16 season. The sale of James Maddison was always going to be a difficult hole for Norwich City to fill, but they still may have expected more than a single point from the first two Championship games. Norwich City drew at Birmingham City 2-2 before going down 3-4 at home against West Brom last weekend in a barnstormer of a fixture that saw momentum ebb and flow both ways. The 3-1 win over Stevenage in the League Cup First Round was a positive and put a better slant on a run where they had won 1 of 7 games in all competitions going back to last season. Norwich City have not won any of their last 9 away Championship games.



HEAD TO HEAD

Both Norwich City and Sheffield United won away from home against the other in the League last season with the fixture at Bramall Lane ending 0-1 to The Canaries. The last 8 on this ground between these clubs have seen both Norwich City and Sheffield United win 4 games apiece, but it Norwich City who have won on their last 2 visits here.



PREDICTION

Both Sheffield United and Norwich City have ambitions of making it into the Premier League at the end of this season, but both will also recognise they will need some luck to do that. In a competitive Division where other clubs have a lot more money than these two original Premier League clubs, it can be tough for Sheffield United and Norwich City to bring in the quality they need to challenge much higher up the League table. Norwich City fans might not want to hear that considering it has been a couple of years since they were in the Premier League, but they struggled for goals at this level last season and then sold James Maddison in the summer transfer window. Loan moves could be important to the two managers in the next two weeks to bolster their options, but for now they are looking to earn the points in this one. Sheffield United have played one League game more than Norwich City, but they at least won their first game last weekend, while Norwich City have a single point so far. Goals have been flowing in their League games respectively though and we could see more of the same at Bramall Lane. All 3 games played by Norwich City in the 2018/19 season have featured at least four goals each, while they have scored and conceded at least twice in both League games. Sheffield United have had at least three goals shared out in all 3 League games played before the 1-1 home draw with Hull City in the League Cup First Round and The Blades have scored in 3 of 4 games so far. It did finish 0-1 here last season, but there were some key chances for more goals and I am going to back these two teams to continue finding their early season joy in front of goal by sharing at least three goals here. The 1-1 is the danger score as far as I am concerned, but I will back at least one more to be scored at a decent looking price.