The Blades cap off the year of 2022 with a visit to relegation candidates Blackpool on Thursday evening.
After Critchley left Blackpool in the summer, predictably they have struggled all season and currently sit in 22nd. The Tangerines enter Thursday’s match on a seven-game winless run, where they have conceded a goal in all but one of those matches.
Here is how I think Michael Appleton will set his side up on Thursday evening:
Two of Blackpool’s main threats are Jerry Yates and former Blade Gary Madine. This pair have contributed to 18 of Blackpool’s goals this season, which equates to 69% of the Tangerines Championship goals.
Yates is outperforming his xG number by +3.6. While Madine is outperforming his xG by just +0.1.
Blackpool are taking roughly over 11 shots per game, which is around the league average. However, the Tangerines shot on target percentage is at 28% which is the 3rd-worst.
They have attempted the 5th-most total dribbles in the Championship, and they have the 6th-best dribble success rate. Yates has registered 44 dribble attempts so far and he has completed 22 of them. He is their best direct dribbler.
The Tangerines have picked up 6 red cards this season which is by far the worst in the Championship.
Blackpool have conceded 10 goals from set pieces, the 2nd-worst team at defending set pieces in the league. While United have scored 12 goals from set pieces, which is incidentally the 2nd-best record in the league.
According to the infogol model Blackpool are exactly where they should be in the table based on performance metrics. They have conceded an xGA of 38.8, while United have registered an xG of 42.6.
It’s a match up between the 23rd-best home team, against the best away team in the league. My prediction is for United to win by a hefty scoreline and to cap off the year in style.