Confirmation of relegation is creeping closer for Sheffield United. The Blades have to make up an eight-point gap between themselves and safety across their final ten games. They need 2.1 points per game to hit the 35 points mark that kept Aston Villa up last season - they have averaged 0.5 points per game across the season so far.
This is a game between two sides weighed down with significant injuries. Chris Wilder has hardly had a full strength defence to pick from throughout the entire campaign with Leicester are missing the likes of James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.
The Blades' injuries are too much for them in a season that has already been one to forget. Even with key players out, and tactical switches made out of necessity, the hosts should have enough to secure another three points for their top-four aim on Sunday.
Sheffield United's back three are all missing at the moment, with Chris Basham, John Egan and Jack O'Connell sidelined through injury. Jack Robinson, a full-back who could play on the left side of the trio, is also absent and the Blades are very short on options.
The one player they will welcome back after suspension is PHIL JAGIELKA. He was sent off in the win over Aston Villa which was his second card in five starts this season. There is a risk he may be substituted if they are chasing the game but he represents good value in the cards market.
Sporting Index provide the best price of 39/5 but 7/1 is available with both Sky Bet and William Hill. He is a squad player at the club but those injuries means he has to play when he can and that has led to cards. In eight total appearances, he has seen more fouls than successful tackles.
That includes two fouls in that win over Villa and a referee such as Peter Bankes isn't afraid to show the cards when required. He averages just under 3.5 cards per game and handed out six in Sheffield United's draw with Brighton earlier this season.
Both of those cards came when playing at centre-back and he's had a steady stream of fouls in each game throughout the season. That has been the case in recent weeks with a total of seven fouls coming in his last three games. That led to a booking against Southampton last time out.
The striker duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy will be a handful for the Sheffield United defence and that should lead to fouls. Not only that, but Leicester's midfield duo of Youri Tielemans and Sidnei Tavares were fouled a combined three times against Brighton.
The 12.5 fouls that Sheffield United commit on average per game is the second-highest in the league, only bettered by Fulham (12.6), while Leicester are the third-most fouled team (11.5). With this referee in charge, the Blades could find themselves in the book - AMPADU and JAGIELKA are the value plays in this market.
Score prediction: Leicester 2-0 Sheffield United ()
Odds correct at 1630 GMT (11/03/21)
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