Everton vs Sheffield United Betting Pick | English Other

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2011-08-24 - Everton vs Sheffield United

A Sports Betting Pick by Auls

Everton v Sheffield United
Football : Carling Cup
Wednesday 24 August 2011 - Kickoff 8pm

Everton

David Moyes had been speaking last week to the media and was suggesting his side would be doing very well to finish in the top 10 this season- following a 0-1 loss at home to QPR, I have to begin to believe him. Moyes has done a fantastic job in his time at Goodison Park, but he has no silverware to show for his efforts and there is a murmur of discontent coming from the stands.

The loss to QPR is the only game Everton have played this season after their opening day game at Tottenham was cancelled due to the riots taking place in London. While Everton will be disappointed by the result against QPR, it has to be said they had many chances in the game and on another day could have run through as 3-1 or 4-1 winners and no one would have said they didn't deserve it.

The Toffees had been unbeaten in their last 6 competitive games at home before the loss last Saturday. They made a slow start last season, failing to win any of their first 3 home games in the League, but David Moyes did play a strong team to beat Huddersfield 5-1 at this stage of the Carling Cup.

Tim Cahill has been suffering with an illness and may not be risked in this match. Jermaine Beckford needs a late fitness test, while Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is suspended and Seamus Coleman is a long term injury.

Sheffield United

Danny Wilson took over at Bramell Lane following Sheffield United's relegation and he has made a good start to his era in charge of the club. Many of the fans would have expected the team to challenge for promotion from League One after dropping to this tier of English football for the first time in 23 years and they have made a good start with that goal in mind.

The Blades are 3rd in League One after picking up 10 points from their opening 4 games of the season and they had won 3 straight League games before drawing at Tranmere at the weekend. Sheffield United beat Hartlepool in the last Round on a penalty shoot out, revenge for losing at the same ground last season.

Sheffield United have gained some positives from their start to the season, especially considering the bad end to last season that saw them lose their place in the Championship. They have actually lost just 1 of their last 5 away games since last season, although they had lost 12 of 14 before that.

Stephen Quinn is in the squad despite picking up an injury on Saturday at Tranmere. Ryan Flynn is rated at 50-50 for the game and will need a fitness test.

Head to Head

The teams last met in the 2006/07 Premier League season and it was Everton who picked up a 2-0 win at Goodison Park on that occasion.

Prediction

Everton have not been beaten at this stage since the 2001/02 season and David Moyes is not one of these managers that gives this competition a wide berth. Last season he played a strong team in this Round while dispatching Huddersfield so I would be a little surprised if he changed his policy now.

The team were very unlucky to lose to QPR when you consider the amount of chances that were missed in that game and I expect Moyes will have them fired up to bounce back with a morale boosting win ahead of a trip to Blackburn on Saturday.

Sheffield United have made a good start in League One under Danny Wilson, but if Everton play a side anything like the one that played against Huddersfield last season, I can only pick Everton to come through with something to spare.