Bramall Lane is the venue as promotion chasing Sheffield United take on a Spurs side who will be desperate to try and land a trophy this season and this competition might just be their best genuine chance. Sheffield United came though two epic ties vs Wrexham in the previous round and although their focus might be elsewhere they will want to put on a good show again.
I’ve put together all the stats in the book for the fourth of this evening’s FA Cup clashes so you can pick yet another bet builder winner. Use the data below alongside my Stats Pack Guide for the best chance of building a beauty of a bet.
Predicted Lineups
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom revealed there has been an illness going around the squad recently so there could be some doubts who feature. Ben Davies should get the gloves because he appears to be the designated cup goalkeeper for the Blades. Lowe and Bogle will likely retain their wingback spots and upfront Ollie McBurnie looks set to be rested. N’Diaye and the controversial Billy Sharp may well be the partnership in attack.
Spurs have problematic injuries in midfield with both Bentacur and Bissouma ruled out long term. First choice keeper Hugo Lloris remains injured, so Fraser Forster gets the gloves. There is likely to be some rotation in the wing back spots with Pedro Porro and Ivan Perisic coming into the side. The midfield duo for this fixture is probably going to be Hojbjerg and Skipp, whilst in attack Richarlison could be pushing for a spot.
Team stats
Sheffield United average 1.76 goals per game and only 0.91 against. They average 14.12 shots per game, of which an impressive 5.18 are on target. Just 2.78 SOT against per game demonstrates their excellent defence. These numbers are from the Championship though.
Corners have been high in Blades matches. They average nearly 6 corners per game themselves with 5.09 against. Cards have also been on the high side and their fixtures have averaged nearly five cards overall, 2.36 for and 2.42 against.
Tottenham average 1.84 goals per game and 1.40 against. Their xG and xGA numbers are also very high. Spurs have conceded a high 13.72 shots per game which is simply too many. They have a good SOT conversion rate of 5.04 from 13.44 shots themselves.
Spurs average nearly 6 corners per match, and they concede 4.56. Cards have been high in their fixtures which isn’t surprising considering the manager. Tottenham have obtained 2.16 cards in each future, whilst their opponents have 2.20.
Player shots and shots on target
Oli McBurnie has averaged a massive 4.27 shots per 90 mins with an impressive 2.01 SOT rate. He is the clear go-to man upfront if he was to start the game. Three other players, Bogle, Doyle and Ndiaye all average around 2 shots per 90 mins, with Doyle especially quite accurate. Billy Sharp has also been very accurate, over 50% of his shots are on target.
Harry Kane unsurprisingly leads Spurs with attempts at 3.46 per 90 mins. He has a strong accuracy ratio close to the 45% mark at 1.49 SOT. The trio of Son, Richarlison and Sessegnon all average two shots or more per 90 mins. Son is another who has decent accuracy and fires 1.33 SOT. Kulusevski has poorer accuracy but fires in 1.59 shots per 90 mins.
Player goals and assists
Iliman Ndiaye is a massive dual threat with ten goals and seven assists. Ollie McBurnie has scored 11 goals and enjoyed an excellent season, but there is a good chance he could be rested here. From midfield, Sander Berge has scored five goals and supplied three assists. Centre back Anel Ahmedhodic has been dangerous from set pieces nailing four goals. Midfield playmaker Oliver Norwood has five assists which is the second most on this list.
Harry Kane leads the way for the North London outfit with 17 goals. He only has one assist which is a little bit surprising. Son has four goals and three assists. The leading assist provider for Spurs on this list is Kulusevski with five.
Player passing
Sheffield United average 51% possession but are more likely to have reduced numbers of passing in this game considering they are facing Premier League opponents. Oliver Norwood averages 61.2 passes per 90 mins but nobody else stands out even at the 50 passes mark.
Tottenham only average 51% possession and can be really difficult to predict with the ball. The expectation is that they should have a strong share of possession in this game, but you wouldn’t say that with total certainty. Three players all average over 60 passes per 90 mins for Spurs, with centre back Clement Lenglet and midfielder Pierre Emile Hojbjerg the most likely to rack up the passing numbers here.
Sheffield United cards
Defenders John Egan and Anel Ahmedhodzic rank highest for cards with 10 and 8 respectively. Striker Ollie McBurnie averages 1.51 fouls per 90 mins, the most of anyone on this list. Midfielder Oliver Norwood and wing back Jayden Bogle are also contenders for fouls and cards in this game.
Richarlison is the sort of player who will naturally draw fouls and potentially cards. He is a skilful player and also the type who can wind up opponents with his gimmicks and tricks. Right wing back Emerson Royal is fouled 1.80 times per 90 mins and Pedro Porro likely coming into the side could similarly be targeted. Harry Kane is always going to be a difficult matchup for any defenders. He is a wise canny player and knows how to play for fouls and free kicks.
Matchups to watch
Anel Ahmedhodzic vs Son
John Egan vs Harry Kane
Max Lowe vs Pedro Porro
Tottenham cards
Now that Bentancur and Bissouma are injured the obvious candidate for cards is Argentinian defender Cristian Romero. He has 8 cards and a high foul rate of 1.63 per 90 mins. He could be rested here which would put Tanganga or Sanchez in the firing line. Harry Kane is usually good for at least one foul per game and can be quite tactical or cynical. Midfielder Oliver Skipp must be a candidate for fouls here should he start, whilst at left wing back Perisic or potentially Sessegnon look vulnerable.
Attacker Iliman Ndiaye has been fouled 1.74 times per 90 mins and is a matchup nightmare for any defence. He dribbles over 4 times per game and is an elusive threat. Whoever plays alongside him upfront, Billy Sharp or Ollie McBurnie will also be a tough task for the Spurs backline. Attacking midfielder James McAatee is another high dribbler (3.05) and gets fouled 1.43 times per 90 mins, but probably won’t start here.
Matchups to watch
Davison Sanchez vs Billy Sharp
Oliver Skipp vs Iliman Ndiaye
Ivan Perisic vs Jayden Bogle
My Bet Builder Picks of the Pack
While I was compiling all the data for this game, I couldn’t help but scavenge for my picks of the pack which you can add to your bet builder below at a generous looking 4/1.
Sheffield United vs Tottenham
1st March
kick off 19:55 Tottenham to win
Tottenham have won 3 of their last 5 in the Premier League.
They’re yet to concede a goal in the FA Cup, and look like they mean business in their eternal quest for a trophy.
They beat Preston 3-0 and Portsmouth 1-0.
They’ll be filled with confidence after their 2-0 wins over London rivals Chelsea and West Ham most recently.
Over 2.5 GoalsTottenham games average 3.24 goals per game.
They have an xG of 3.31 suggesting they should be even more heavy on the goal front.
Tottenham also concede 1.67 goals on their travels compared to just 1.14 at home.
Sheffield United games average 2.67 goals.
They have an xG of 2.56.
That being said, their opposition is much stronger and they’ll be expected to let in at least a couple of goals.
However, they’ll also put up a threat themselves, and have scored 2.06 goals on average at Bramall Lane.
Over 2.5 CardsSheffield United games average a huge 4.78 cards per game.
That’s evenly distributed between themselves and their opposition, with 2.36 brandished in their direction and 2.42 the opposite.
Tottenham games average 3.36 cards.
Again, a fairly even split with 2.16 in Tottenham’s way, and 2.20 to their opposition.
Referee David Brooks averages 3.94 cards per game.
Over 8.5 CornersSheffield United games average 10.91 corners.
Tottenham games average 10.28 corners per game.
At Bramall Lane, that average increases to 11.29 corners.
Tottenham’s average also increases on their travels to 10.58.
