Sheffield United vs Wrexham Prediction: Both teams won their league games

Sheffield United will be looking to host Wrexham at Bramall Lane in the EFL Cup, Round 1. Both teams won their league games. Who will win after 90 minutes?

Early in the game, the hosts were able to get ahead of Preston with Ollie Arblaster's deflected strike in the 12th minute. In the 55th minute, Gustavo Hamer doubled the advantage for Sheffield United by lobbing Freddie Woodman from outside the area, catching the latter somewhat unaware as he progressed toward his goal.

Preston had more shots on goal - 12 to Sheffield United's 11 - and they also fashioned eight efforts inside the box, double that of attempts made by Chris Wilder's team. Wilder will be thrilled with the display of his team, especially as they have already overcome their two-point deduction which they were handed for failing to make transfer payments during the 2022-23 campaign.

In the last campaign, Sheffield United exited the EFL Cup at the same stage following a defeat to Lincoln City 3-2 on penalties on August 30, 2023. The Blades have found it difficult to get through to the next rounds; in the last three ties, they have been sent packing home, and four of their six most recent eliminations have come via penalty shootouts.

Grbic; Seriki, Souttar, Robinson, Burrows; Brewster, Souza, Arblaster, Slimane; Peck; Campbell

Wrexham's opponents secured back-to-back promotions under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to return to League One level for the first time since the 2004-05 season. Wrexham opened their 2024-25 campaign with a win over Wycombe, for whom Max Cleworth, Jack Marriott and Steven Fletcher scored. Manager Phil Parkinson was delighted with the win, but was concerned that his side allowed 19 shots on goal, 15 of them inside their penalty area. Wrexham have appeared in just nine EFL Cup games, a good many of them in 2007 or earlier. Last season, having emerged from a penalty shootout against Wigan in the first round, they again went out on penalties, this time to Bradford City in the second round. The last time Wrexham and Sheffield United locked horns in the EFL Cup was back in September 2004, when the team from Wales lost 3-2.

Burton; Barnett, Scarr, O'Connell, O'Connor, McClean; Cannon, Dobson, Lee; Dalby, Palmer

Even though Wrexham pulled off something magnificent, having back-to-back promotions to League One, Championship side Sheffield United might be a little hard to cope with. Still, if their performance against Wycombe showed anything, Wrexham would be well up for it against the Blades.