Nottingham Forest vs Sheffield United betting tips: Back blunt Blades to be torn apart by hosts

Nottingham Forest host Sheffield United at the City Ground on Friday evening and Planet Sport is backing the hosts to pick up their first Premier League win of the season.

2023-08-17Nottingham Forest vs Sheffield United betting tips: Back blunt Blades to be torn apart by hosts

Nottingham Forest were arguably the more effective team against Arsenal and a similar performance should carry them above the Blades.

Date, KO time and TV coverage

Premier League, Friday, August 18, Kick-off 7.45pm

Predicted score

Nottingham Forest 2-0 Sheffield United

Premier League betting tips

Nottingham Forest vs Sheffield United team news

Anthony Elanga and Taiwo Awoniyi are pushing for a start after combining for Forest's opening-day goal at Arsenal but Omar Richards (groin), Wayne Hennessey (knee) and Felipe (knee) remain out.

Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson are likely to retain their place as the hosts could switch to a more attacking formation at home.

The visitors are without John Fleck (calf), Rhian Brewster (thigh), Ismaila Coulibaly (knee), Jayden Bogle (knee), Daniel Jebbison (groin), Oliver McBurnie (ankle) and Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh).

The visitors may be forced to continue with a lightweight front three of Ben Osborn, William Osula and Benie Traore, while 19-year-old Antwoine Hackford is an option off the bench.

Nottingham Forest vs Sheffield United betting preview

Nottingham Forest made a positive start to their second season in the Premier League, losing 2-1 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium but competing over 90 minutes.

Steve Cooper's side was arguably the more effective in executing their game plan, limiting Arsenal's touches near their box and outsourcing them on xG.

Sheffield United were beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace at Bramall Lane last weekend and were dominated from start to finish by Roy Hodgson's side.

We probably expected a little bit more of the Blades given the occasion, but they struggled to keep possession at any point the visitors were able to walk through them with ease.

We'd expect Forest to have more possession than usual on Friday night but that doesn't change the fact they'll be most threatening on the break and they will be afforded those chances.

Paul Heckingbottom's men looked out of their depth as they managed just 162 accurate passes compared to Palace's 466, conceding 68% of possession.

It's no surprise that they've struggled given the fact they've lost the influential Sander Berge and top goalscorer Iliman Ndiaye.

Forest made a habit of scoring goals when they were under intense pressure last season and are the only team to have scored a counter-attacking goal in the opening weekend of the season.

Their intensity in the press should allow them to force a high volume of turnovers and a midfield pairing of Chris Basham and Oliver Norwood doesn't look particularly mobile.

New signings Tom Davies and Gustavo Hamer increase their depth and add some dynamism to the midfield, but Friday could be too early for either of them to start.

Johnson, Gibbs-White and Awoniyi carried out the blueprint to perfect against the Gunners and we predict they'll get plenty of chances here.