Sheffield United vs. Sunderland Betting Tips: Ellis Simms to continue fine start to the season

Four Championship matches take place on Wednesday night, including the televised clash between Sheffield United and Sunderland, which will be screened live on Sky Sports Main Event at 8pm. As always, we provide a couple of bets for the duel…

After missing out in the play-offs last season, there’s an expectation that Sheffield United can mount a more concrete push for promotion this time out. Paul Heckingbottom’s side have registered four points from three games so far, recovering from an opening loss to Watford to beat Millwall and draw with Middlesbrough.

Sunderland, playing in the Championship for the first time in five years, have started brightly with a return of five points from three unbeaten games. A 3-2 win at Bristol City has been sandwiched between home draws against Coventry and QPR.

Sheffield United are the 4/5 favourites to pick up their second win of the season, visiting Sunderland are out at 9/2 to return to the North East with all three points, whereas a draw can be backed at 11/4.

Alex Neil will be pleased with how Sunderland have fared so far, although it could have been so much better given that his side led Coventry up until the 84th minute (1-1), then last weekend let slip a 2-0 lead in the final few minutes at home to QPR (2-2), whose goalkeeper snatched a dramatic last-gasp equaliser.

There are numerous positives to take, albeit Neil will want his troops to show more mental resilience and composure in the later stages of matches. You simply can't switch off in this division. Sheff Utd away is unquestionably their most difficult fixture to date - on paper - since returning to the second-tier, yet the Black Cats have every reason to believe that they can come away from Bramall Lane with at least a point on Wednesday night. 

This is a side that simply isn’t accustomed to losing under manager Neil, who has been defeated just once in 21 league games - including the play-offs - since he replaced Lee Johnson back in February. In fact, Sunderland are currently enjoying a 19 match undefeated streak stretching back half-a-year - and are yet to suffer a league defeat on the road under Neil - making the 23/20 (Boylesports) an appealing price for the Mackems to stretch that unbeaten run to 20 league games on Wednesday. Furthermore, the 11/4 (bet365) on a draw is well worth a look too.

What a start striker Ellis Simms has had since his arrival on loan from Everton. The former Man City academy player has found the back of the net in both of his Sunderland appearances so far: scoring a brace on his debut in the 3-2 win at Bristol City, followed by a goal in the 2-2 draw against QPR. To think that Everton are crying out for a striker right now too.

Given his form and confidence right now Simms, who scored for Hearts against Celtic last season, looks a cracking price at 4/1 to find the back of the net once again on Wednesday. The Blades have conceded in three of their four league and cup games this season, with their defence breached twice over the weekend in the 2-2 draw at Boro.