SHEFFIELD UNITED take on Southampton in Super Sunday's Premier League action. James Cantrill (@JimmyThePunt) shares his thoughts on the fixture.
Southampton vs Sheffield United | Sunday 13th December 2020, 12:00 | Sky Sports
This time last year, Sheffield United sat seventh in the table – tucked in between Man Utd and Spurs – fresh of the back of a 2-0 win over Aston Villa. On the south coast, Ralph Hasenhuttl looked destined for the sack as Southampton languished in the drop zone, their 1-0 loss to West Ham their eighth in their most recent 11 Premier League fixtures.
A year later and it's a roll reversal, the Blades prop up the table with a solitary point whilst Saints are amongst the pack chasing European football in sixth with 20 points.
The mood around St Mary's is polar opposite to what it was. Southampton have only lost one of their last nine fixtures and welcome a Sheffield United side that they completed the double over last season at midday on Sunday.
Hassenhuttl will be bolstered by the return of his talisman Danny Ings, who secured the winner on Monday night during his brief cameo, and Nathan Redmond who also returned to the bench on Monday.
For the visitors, Ethan Ampadu, Enda Stevens and Lys Moussett are all doubts. Chris Wilder will probably opt for Oli McBurnie in attack after a MOTM performance in his last game. Rhian Brewster, David McGoldrick and Oli Burke are all in contention to partner him but I expect it to be the latter.
With four cards to their names, only Matty Cash has been booked more times than Sander Berge and Oriol Romeu. Both of which are expected to start in the middle of the park. With Andy Madley in-charge for this one I don't expect cards to be rife so I'm going to propose both to be carded first. Romeo is 11/1 to be carded first and Sander Berge is 22/1, both at Bet365.
My other pick I'm going to delve into my favourite market for what I think is a valuable price; Oli McBurnie to win WhoScored MOTM at 16/1 with Betfair and Paddy Power.
Whoscored's MOTM selection is inferred from a composite of different statistics; goals scored, assists made, key passes and passes completed, tackles won, ect. Therefore, it is not a matter of opinion but awarded on merit which gives a lot more scope for value.
McBurnie is a player that divides opinion amongst Scotland fans and the Blades faithful. In his breakout season at Swansea he scored 24 goals, earning him a move to South Yorkshire and lumbered him with a £20m price tag.
His time in S6 hasn't being as fruitful as either party would have hoped for, however, I don't think anyone can question his guile, grit and endeavour for the cause which was best epitomised by his last performance in Sheff Utd's most recent fixture vs the Foxes. Despite losing, McBurnie finished on a rating of 8.00 and won WhoScored MOTM.
The Scottish Striker has the highest average rating of any SUFC player (6.96) and has won the accolade twice, which is two times more than any other member of Chris Wilder's squad this season! At 16/1 this is a price play.
Best Bets
Southampton vs Sheffield United – Oriel Romeo to be Carded First (11/1 Bet365)
Southampton vs Sheffield United – Sander Berge to be Carded First (22/1 Bet365)
Southampton vs Sheffield United – Oli McBurnie WhoScored MOTM (16/1 Betfair)
