Pundit Mark Lawrenson has admitted his predictions about Sheffield United this season have been wrong.
Lawro predicts the Premier League fixtures every week. If he’d got them all right, the Blades would currently be second from bottom with just seven points.
As it is they actually have 19 points and are in seventh position. They are unbeaten in their last seven league matches and have the third best defensive record in the division.
They have also not lost any of their seven away games. No newly promoted side has achieved that feat in the top flight since Blackburn Rovers in 1992/93.
Next up is a home encounter with Newcastle United on Thursday. And as always, Lawro has had his say on the result.
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How a pundit changed his mind about Sheffield United
(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
“Sheffield United keep on picking up points and I am very aware I have not tipped them enough to win this season,” Lawro wrote in his BBC Sport predictions column.
“I keep thinking they will run out of steam but that has not happened, and they have already shown that they are far better than I thought they were.
“I thought they would stay up but I did not expect them to be as high as they are, and they just look so comfortable at this level.
“It is going to be interesting what Newcastle try to do against them, and how much energy they have got left, because they worked so hard in their draw against Manchester City on Saturday.”
Lawro thinks that the Blades will win 2-1 at Bramall Lane. Even a draw would take them to the 20-point mark. That would be halfway to the target of 40 that is widely believed to be needed to avoid relegation.
With only 15 matches gone that would be some achievement. At least Lawro is now recognising it as such.
