United second-favourites with bettors to go up whilst Wednesday flounder as momentum shifts in the Steel City
When Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United both started in the same division for the first time in five years, each team had their own ambitions. But as United have made a start beyond most fans' wildest dreams, it's been a disaster so far for Wednesday, compounded by defeat at Hillsborough against their fiercest rivals.
The red half of the city currently have bragging rights in the table too, currently sitting eight points above the blue half. Two wins in four days have seen bettors lump on United to be promoted, while two losses in four days for Wednesday have them looking over their shoulder rather than up the table.
Since their Steel City Derby win, United have been the second-best backed side to go up, totalling over 12% of bets. You could have got 10/1 on United earning back-to-back promotions at the start of the season, but this has come into 11/2 and is as short as 4/1 in places.
The Blades were 6/1 for an instant relegation in August, but after their start which sees them second in the Championship table, they have gone out all the way to 100/1.
Meanwhile at Hillsborough, Carlos Carvalhal is a man under extreme pressure, as seen by his bizzare viral rant, which featured a £20 note. Defeat at Birmingham has weakened his position even more and that was enough for one punter in the Sheffield area who has backed the Owls to go down and will stand to make a four-figure sum should it happen.
Wednesday’s promotion odds are now bigger than United’s and you can get 8/1 on the club making the mother of all turnarounds. There’s no support in this happening though, with just 2% of bettors since the derby backing Carvalhal’s side to go up.
Oddschecker Spokesman George Elek: “It’s a tale of two clubs in the Steel City. United and Wednesday are going in opposite directions, with the derby in front of the Sky cameras really getting people’s attention. There is a lot of love for the Bramall Lane side to return to the promised land for the first time since Neil Warnock was manager. Wednesday still remain a big price for relegation but we have seen big sides go down before and Owls fans only need to ask their city neighbours about how hard it is getting out of League One!
