Against All Odds: Crawley to blunt The Blades

9Apr 2013

Betfair

Sheffield United are odds-on for their League One clash with Crawley Town this evening but with just one home win in their last seven, Paul Robinson thinks they have to be opposed.

The Blades were the pre-season favourites for the League One title and while they're still in with a chance of achieving it, the play-offs are looking more and more likely. They are currently fifth in the table, eight points off top spot and six adrift of the second automatic promotion place. They do have games in hand though, which if they won, they'd go second.

Danny Wilson's side have only lost six times this term - the lowest amount in the entire division - but they have drawn far too many, especially at home. At Bramall Lane, United have drawn their last three 0-0 and the 3-0 win over Colchester in February is their only league victory in front of their own fans since Boxing Day. In fact, they have won just seven of 19 at home this season, a win percentage of 37%.

Crawley Town have risen through the divisions in recent years and after finishing third in League Two last time, they were fancied in some quarters to earn another promotion to the Championship. Things haven't quite worked out after a bright start though and with just five games to go, they are in 13th place with 58 points.

In fairness to Richie Barker's men though, they haven't been losing too many recently. Similarly to their opponents, they have been drawing most of their matches, which would do us just fine tonight. The Reds have been defeated only once in their last nine and once in their last half dozen away from Broadfield Stadium.

Sheffield United need to start winning games if they want to secure promotion back to the Championship but they just don't seem to have the creativity to put teams to the sword, especially at home. Crawley are a resilient outfit and I feel they have been underestimated by the Betfair market for this one. Therefore, with United trading around the 1.79 mark, I have to make them my lay of the day.