Supercomputer makes new relegation prediction after West Brom beat Sheffield United
Sheffield United’s strong run of recent form came to an end as they were beaten 2-0 by West Brom at The Hawthorns.
Chris Wilder‘s side had not lost any of their previous six games before Friday (12 December) night’s clash, winning four of those to move away from the Championship relegation zone.
Wilder has done a stellar job back at Bramall Lane after Ruben Selles was sacked for a dismal start to the season, but they were given a reality check in the West Midlands.
Second-half strikes from Aune Heggebo and Karlan Grant saw West Brom take all three points on home turf to relieve some pressure on under-fire boss Ryan Mason.
Sheffield United have moved away from the bottom three in recent weeks, but this latest defeat will leave them wary of being dragged back into the relegation battle this season.
Opta have United as 3.12% likely to be relegated
Relegation would be disastrous for the Blades as they aim to get back into the Premier League this season following a play-off final defeat in 2024-25.
They last played in League One back in 2016-17, as Wilder led the club to promotion to the second-tier in his first season in charge.
While some fans may be fearful of dropping back into the third-tier, Opta‘s supercomputer has United at just 3.12 per cent likely to go down this season.
Another campaign of second-tier football beckons at Bramall Lane, with eight other clubs all predicted to pick up less points from now until next May.
Who Opta thinks will be relegated from the Championship
Opta had Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich and Portsmouth as the three most likely teams to be relegated this season at the start of December.
Things have not changed much in the two weeks since, with financially troubled Wednesday having a 99.98 per cent chance of going down, while Norwich and Pompey are 68.34 and 46 per cent likely to be relegated respectively.
Oxford United will be fearing the worst but are predicted to survive with a 34.96 per cent chance of relegation, while in-form Swansea City are next in the expected table with a 14.10 per cent possibility of being in League One next season as it stands.