SHEFFIELD UNITED take on Leicester in Super Sunday's Premier League action. James Cantrill (@JimmyThePunt) shares his thoughts on the fixture.
Sheffield United vs Leicester | Sunday 6th December 2020, 14:15 | Sky Sports
Sheffield United welcome Leicester to an empty Bramall Lane, still awaiting their first win of the campaign. Chris Wilder will be without the long-term absentee Jack O'Connell on Sunday, Ethan Ampadu and Enda Stevens are also doubts but they will both face a late fitness test.
The Blades were bolstered by the return of striker ‘La piraterie' Lys Mousset last week vs West Brom, although the Frenchman did squander a glorious chance late on at the Hawthorns.
Brendan Rodgers will be delighted to have Roberto Pereira, Wilfred Ndidi and Caglar Soyuncu all back in contention for a start here. The Leicester trio all returned to action in the Foxes midweek UEL game following stints on the sidelines. Daniel Amartey is unavailable for the visitors.
With Stuart Attwell overseeing this one I am keen to get cards onside in as many forms as I can. The Mancunian has been brandishing the cards left, right and centre this season and currently tops the charts in the Premier League for yellow cards per-game, averaging 5.4.
The last three EPL games Attwell’s taken charge of have seen 14 yellows, one red and four penalties with over one card each team landing in all bar one he has overseen. Therefore, I'm taking Bet365's price of 11/5 for Over 1 Card Each team.
Leicester have the second-worst disciplinary record of any Premier League side, accumulating 21 yellows so far. Six of Leicester's 10 EPL games have seen at least two of their players get their name taken and they've had at least two cards in five of their last six games in all competitions.
Sheffield United have been a bit hit and miss for cards but have also seen over one card in six of their 10 EPL games, which includes their last game against the Baggies. Given how much of a torrid time they are having at the foot of the table, the pressure is on to perform.
I'm also a big fan of Sander Berge to be carded at 11/2 with Bet365. I don't think the circumstances could be more perfect; the most card-happy referee in the league meets the most carded player who lines up against the most fouled player in the league!
I have had some success tipping this in the past and happy to keep backing this at the price available. The odds suggest that the implied probability of this landing is just 15.4%, however, Sander Berge has been carded in 44.4% of his appearances this season.
Berge will be covering James Maddison. Maddison is the most fouled player per 90 minutes averaging 4.6 (of players with a minimum of five appearances). To put that in perspective, Jack Grealish has drawn the most fouls in the league by some distance and he's drawing an average of 4.4 per 90 minutes.
Another individual I like in the card market is Jonny Evans. The Foxes veteran is tied with Berge on four cards but has only played seven games. Staggeringly, Evans is 4/1 to be booked with Bet365, William Hill and Sky Bet.
I think Evans will have his work cut out against Oliver Burke. The Scottish international works tireless hard, he's so quick and runs the channels superbly well. He drew a card from West Brom's centre-half Ivanovic after nipping the ball away from him.
Given the referee appointment I think it is defiantly worth combining Berge and Evans in a double at odds of 33/1.
Best Bets
Sheffield United vs Leicester – Over 1 Card Each Team (11/5 Bet365)
Sheffield United vs Leicester – Sander Berge Booking (11/2 Bet365)
Sheffield United vs Leicester – Jonny Evans Booking (4/1 Bet365)
Sheffield United vs Leicester – Sander Berge and Evans Jonny Booking Doubles (33/1 Bet365)
