The first full round of English Premier League fixtures will take place this weekend but there were two games in midweek, one of which involved Sheffield United.
On Sunday the 21st of June, The Blades travel to St James’ Park to take on Newcastle United. The hosts start the game in 13th place on 35 points while the visitors are in 6th place on 44 points.
⚖️ The match officials have been confirmed ahead of Sunday's @premierleague visit of @SheffieldUnited. #NUFC— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) June 16, 2020
⚖️ The match officials have been confirmed ahead of Sunday's @premierleague visit of @SheffieldUnited. #NUFC
Newcastle United come into the match having won their most recent Premier League game which took place before the suspension of professional football in England. They defeated Southampton 1-0 away from home and that was Newcastle United’s second straight victory following a 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup.
Newcastle United are undefeated in their last 3 games in all competitions and prior to the two matches highlighted above they picked up a point in a 0-0 draw at home against Burnley. Trends show Newcastle United undefeated in 14 of their last 16 home games in all competitions. They have managed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 4 matches at St James’ Park but have failed to score a goal themselves in each of their last 3 games on home soil.
Under 2.5 goals have been scored in each of their last 4 home matches in all competitions and Newcastle United have won only 1 of their last 6 matches in the Premier League.
Sheffield United resumed their Premier League campaign on Wednesday night as they travelled to Villa Park to take on relegation threatened Aston Villa. The game ended in a 0-0 draw but there was controversy when the Aston Villa goalkeeper took the ball over the line but the technology failed. It did not award Sheffield United what would have been the winning goal.
However, that result means Sheffield United have not been beaten in their last 6 straight clashes in all competitions and are undefeated in 20 of their 24 most recent matches. They have not tasted defeat once in their last 7 games in all competitions and there have been wins over Crystal Palace away plus Bournemouth and Norwich City at home in the Premier League. There have also been victories against Millwall and Reading in the FA Cup.
There have been under 2.5 goals in 12 of Sheffield United's 13 most recent away games in all competitions.
Team news and Newcastle United will be without Jetro Willems for the remainder of the season. They also have doubts over the fitness of Ciaran Clark, Dwight Gayle, Matthew Longstaff and Sean Longstaff.
Sheffield United will be hoping to welcome back John Fleck who missed the match at Aston Villa due to a knock in training. However, it appears defender Jack O'Connell is going to miss out due to a knee problem.
This could be a very tight game with little in the way of clear cut goal scoring chances. It would not be a surprise to see under 2.5 goals scored and for the match to end in a draw.