We’re on upset watch this weekend as National League leaders Wrexham try to take down Championship high-flyers Sheffield United in the FA Cup Fourth Round.
The Wrexham story is gathering steam, with the Red Dragons topping the National League and stringing together seven straight wins. A 3-0 victory over Gateshead was the latest free-scoring performance for the Welsh side made famous by Welcome to Wrexham.
This is a big step up in quality against a Sheffield United team eyeing a return to the Premier League. The Blades sit second in the Championship and are unbeaten in their last nine games.
Find out more in our free Wrexham vs. Sheffield United picks and predictions ahead of this Sunday, January 29 battle.
Wrexham vs Sheffield United odds
| Wrexham | Sheffield United | |
|---|---|---|
| +333 | Moneyline | -118 |
| +260 | Draw | +260 |
| Over 2.5 (-110) | Total | Under 2.5 (-110) |
Odds courtesy of bet365 on January 27, 2023.
Wrexham vs Sheffield United picks and predictions
Despite the three divisions and many league places between these two teams in the football pyramid, I expect Wrexham to be respectful but not fearful on Sunday. The hosts are at their best when they’re on the front foot and they’ve scored at least two goals in each of their last seven games.
There’s plenty to learn from the Red Dragons’ mindset in the last round of the FA Cup – a 4-3 thriller against Coventry, another Championship opponent, that took their tally in this year’s competition to 15 goals in three games. Sam Dalby and Elliot Lee made key early breakthroughs that day and I’ll be looking for a fiery start from the Red Dragons in front of a big home crowd.
Sheffield United have shown a ruthless streak in the final third this season too, and only Burnley have scored more than the Blades’ 48 goals in the Championship this season. That makes the Over 2.5 goals extra tasty on Sunday.
The visitors fielded a largely full-strength side against Millwall in the last round and should do the same here, though they may make a few changes in attack.
While Paul Heckingbottom’s men have conceded the fewest goals in the Championship (24), they’ve only kept one clean sheet in their last six league games. So, it would be no surprise if an attacking Wrexham side create goalscoring opportunities.
The Sheffield United attack, whether it’s Iliman Ndiaye, Daniel Jebbison, or Billy Sharp, is good enough to cover this prop on its own, but I see both teams contributing to the scoring in an end-to-end cup tie.
My best bet: Over 2.5 (-110 at bet365)
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Wrexham vs Sheffield United side analysis
League position and league form ensures Sheffield United get the favorites tag for this clash, and I expect a professional display from an experienced core, with an awareness that they first have to match Wrexham’s energy before their quality can shine through.
It looks like the odds have taken Wrexham’s surging form into account. The Red Dragons are on a fine run and haven’t tasted defeat since October 4. Yes, Sunday will be a very different proposition from National League showdowns with Gateshead and Eastleigh, but an electric crowd at the Racecourse Ground should be a factor.
Of course, the hosts have giant-killing history on their side after famously dumping Arsenal out of the FA Cup in 1992.
The biggest reason to pick the Blades here might be their edge in midfield, with the talented duo of Oliver Norwood and Sander Berge capable of taking a stranglehold on the game and settling any early nerves.
Wrexham vs Sheffield United Over/Under analysis
Parking the bus doesn’t seem to be on the cards or in Wrexham’s DNA. Manager Phil Parkinson has already tagged Sunday’s game as a chance to put the club “firmly back on the football map”, and their best path to doing so is to take some risks on the counter-attack.
The Red Dragons were 3-1 up at half-time against Coventry in the last round and have served up some high-scoring wins this season – a 5-0 thumping of Solihull and a 7-5 goal-fest against Barnet. With 26 goals in 30 games this season, the form of striker Paul Mullin could be a ticket to cashing in the Over or a BTTS bet.
The Blades are coming off a 1-0 win over Hull last time out, but their playmakers should fancy their chances against a Wrexham defense that was stretched by ten-man Coventry in the second half of their third-round clash.
It’s tough to see the Sheffield United attack being kept at bay. Ndiaye has 10 league goals this season while Oli McBurnie, still dealing with an ankle issue, has nine. The last time these teams met was a cup tie in 2004 and we could get a repeat of that 3-2 scoreline here.
Wrexham vs Sheffield United game info
| Location: | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Wales |
| Date: | Sunday, January 29, 2023 |
| Time: | 11:30 a.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
Wrexham vs Sheffield United key injuries
Wrexham: Jordan Davies CM (Out).
Sheffield United: Oli McBurnie ST (Questionable), Ciaran Clark CB (Doubtful), John Fleck CM (Doubtful), Enda Stevens LB (Out), Rhian Brewster ST (Out), Rhys Norrington-Davies CB (Out).
Wrexham vs Sheffield United weather
The forecast calls for mostly cloudy conditions in Wrexham on Sunday, with temperatures in the high 40s.
