Image source, PA Media

For so long in the shake-up for automatic promotion, Sheffield United's season finished with a bit of a whimper as they came a distant third, 10 points behind both Burnley and Leeds United.

Chris Wilder's side managed only seven points from their final six games leaving them 15th in the form table - hardly ideal heading into the play-offs.

Yet, as recently as 4 April the Blades were two points clear at the top of the Championship but cue a 1-0 defeat by Oxford and two more subsequent losses and the wheels came off the automatic promotion bandwagon.

Despite having only won once in their previous five away games in the play-offs Sheffield United will head to Ashton Gate tonight with only Burnley having taken more points and won more games on their travels in the Championship this season.

Heading into tonight's tie that sort of form might come in useful.

Image source, Getty Images

Until 2008 the answer was Hull City, since then it's been Bristol.

The question? Oh, name the largest city in England and Wales never to host Premier League football.

With an estimated population of 480,000 Bristol has never hosted top-flight football since the Premier League era started in 1992.

Now, the traditionalists will point to City's four seasons in Division One which ended in 1980 but the world and football has moved on and Robins fans would dearly like quiz masters to have to find a different answer - we could be potentially 270 minutes from that becoming reality.

Rivals Bristol Rovers have been confined to the bottom two divisions and even non-league over the past 33 years leaving the Robins as the more likely to break through the glass ceiling.

Were City to be promoted then Doncaster, who have just won League Two would become the next largest city yet to bring the glitz to their fans.

Image source, Rex Features

This is the 39th season of the EFL play-offs and these two sides have met before but you'll need to be of a certain vintage.

In the 1987-88 season Bristol City finished fifth in what we now call League One while Sheffield United came third-from-bottom in the second tier and under the old format that left them in the play-offs to try to avoid relegation.

The Robins grabbed a 1-0 lead thanks to an Alan Walsh goal in the first leg at Ashton Gate and went through to the final 2-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane as Carl Shutt's opener was levelled by the Blades' Colin Morris.

That result relegated Sheffield United and sent City through to face Walsall in a two-legged final which finished 3-3 and saw the Saddlers win a penalty shoot-out for the right to stage the replay (these were very different times people!)

Walsall won the third game 4-0 and Bristol City would have to wait another two seasons to gain promotion.

Right, history lesson over, back to the present day...

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has no time for the naysayers who point to the club’s dismal play-off record.

The Blades are yet to win promotion via the play-offs in nine previous attempts - that's a record and not one they will like holding.

It's two more than the nearest contender - Lincoln City with seven.

“There’s negativity in football right the way through isn’t there?" Wilder said.

“But there’s no negativity in this group. I’ve been consistent in how the players have been energised after the Burnley game and determined to win a play-off campaign.

“The proof is in the pudding on Thursday night in our approach, but there’s no change in our approach – we’re going there to win.

“But we understand we’re going to have to play very well to win a football game at Ashton Gate in front of a very passionate and vociferous home crowd.”

Sophie Hurcom
BBC Sport England at Ashton Gate

Liam Manning has just been speaking to BBC Radio Bristol following the team news being announced and said Anis Mehmeti - who comes into the starting 11 as the only change - had a "massive impact" on the Preston match.

"He's had a terrific season out there Anis, when you look at his goal return and some of his performances have been excellent," Manning said.

"I know he's not played a huge amount of late, what I love about him is he does his work, I know he's not happy with it but he still does things properly. I saw things at the weekend where I thought he's getting back to his level that he's capable of.

"I thought he had a massive impact on the game at the weekend so hopefully he can do the same tonight.

Harry Cornick and Cameron Pring have also come onto the bench with both having been out injured.

"Delighted to be able to have both of them back, what they can do we have to be a little bit careful but being at this stage it's worth taking the risk," Manning added.

"They were desperate to get back and play a part."

Image source, Opta

Bristol City make one change from the side which drew with Preston at the weekend.

Scott Twine drops down to the bench and in comes top scorer Anis Mehmeti.

Sheffield United made a number of changes for their final game with Blackburn and so there are seven alterations this evening, including the return of goalkeeper Michael Cooper.

Also back are Rhian Brewster, Kieffer Moore, Harrison Burrows, Jack Robinson, Tyrese Campbell and Hamza Choudhury.

Adam Davies, Sam McCallum, Rob Holding, Alfie Gilchrist, Callum O'Hare, Andre Brooks and Tom Cannon are all among the substitutes.

Image source, Opta

Fri, 9 May

• Coventry v Sunderland (20:00)

Mon, 12 May

• Sheff Utd v Bristol City (20:00)

Tues, 13 May

• Sunderland v Coventry (20:00)

Sat, 24 May

• Championship play-off final (kick-off time TBC)

Bristol City have been speaking before the game about their prospects tonight and their dreams of playing Premier League football next season.

Image source, Rex Features

Ten seasons in the Championship makes Bristol City the joint-longest residents of English football's second tier alongside Preston and QPR.

If they want to bring that stay to an end they will need to break new ground and win a play-off tie.

Six attempts have seen the Robins draw a blank - this is their first appearance in the end-of-season bun fight since losing to Hull City at Wembley in 2008.

That's the closest City have come to a return to top flight football since relegation in 1980 ended a four-season stay.

Ashton Gate has been key to Liam Manning's side getting this far with only Leeds (1) and Burnley (0) losing fewer home games than Bristol City (3) in the Championship this season albeit one of those defeats was inflicted in dramatic style by Sheffield United in November.

They are unbeaten in their past eight at home with six wins helping to carry them into the play-offs but only a fightback from 2-0 down on the final day against Preston saw them over the line.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's a quick reminder of how the Championship finished with Leeds and Burnley off on their holidays while four others slog it out in the play-offs.

Can Bristol City bridge a 22-point gap and get themselves 90 minutes from the Premier League or will Sheffield United show why they are only the third side in Championship history to reach 90 points and fail to win automatic promotion?

Image source, Rex Features

A combined 14 failed play-off campaigns isn't something to shout about but when you've been trying this long Bristol City and Sheffield United will hope this is the year they finally get over the line.

City have tried five times previously in the EFL, the last being that 2008 Wembley defeat by Hull City while there were also final losses in 2004 and 1988.

For the Blades this is their sixth attempt in the Championship and ninth overall with four defeats in the final the best they have to show for their efforts.

Were Sheffield United to get to the final this time around they would have to do something the haven't done for 100 years - win a game at Wembley - but that's a story for another day...

Image source, Rex Features

Is anyone ever really ready for the play-offs?

Thirty-seven years since these two met in the third-tier play-offs (more of that in a bit) the prize on offer across the next 180 minutes is huge.

Bristol City are looking for a shot at a taste of the Premier League and top flight football for the first time since 1980 while Sheffield United are angling for an immediate return to the promised land.

Alrighty, we've heard from the fans and our BBC colleagues around Ashton Gate... time to take a closer look at each of these sides with less than an hour to go until kick-off...

Bea Swallow
BBC News, West of England

The gravity of the match is beginning to dawn on Bristol City fans as kick off draws closer.

"The excitement and the buzz was there this morning but now the nerves are kicking in," said Barry.

Nathan added: “It’s a big thing for Bristol, and as a whole in terms of football.

"We really need that Premier League club for such a big city. So it’s a nervous one, you never know what will happen.

“Sheffield United are a strong team so if we can come out of it tonight with at least a draw or a win, just something to build on Monday, it’ll be a positive."

Bea Swallow
BBC News, West of England

Hundreds of fans have gathered across the road in Greville Smyth Park to light flares and chant in support of their respective sides.

Plumes of red smoke rise high into the air and drift towards the towering stadium walls.

Bea Swallow
BBC News, West of England

If you missed out on tickets to watch the game live from the stands, you can catch the palpable atmosphere at a pub garden down the road.

The Rising Sun has the biggest outdoor screens in Bristol, and landlord Aaron Sullivan-Bissett attests you can "hear the roars of the crowds" from there.

Image source, Google

"It's going to be absolutely electric, like no other. We're really looking forward to it," he said.

"To reach the play-offs was amazing, the atmosphere we had here was just incredible, I've never experienced one like it in this venue.

"It's 17 years in the making and we're really going to push for it. If they get it, this is a dream come true for Bristol. It would just be incredible to see."

Ross Crane
BBC West at Ashton Gate

The fan park at Ashton Gate is starting to fill up. There’s a band sound checking to the tune of ‘Naive’ by the Kooks.

That song was in the charts around spring 2006. Sheffield United were promoted to the Premier League around the same time.

A tenuous omen?

Bea Swallow
BBC News, West of England

Father and daughter duo, Kevin and Megan, have registered their predictions of 2-1 to Bristol City.

Megan, who only began supporting the team this season, said: "It’s really nice to see them succeed in how well they’ve actually done.

"We’re such a good team I just think we deserve it so much. I cannot wait."

Kevin described his daughter as a "lucky charm", having yet to see City lose a home game.

“We could probably do with that tonight," he said. “It’s been a long old season for the players and a few of them are carrying some injuries, but we’ve just got one final push now.

"Whatever happens, they’ve done remarkably well so let’s just get behind them tonight."

The first leg of Bristol City’s play-off against Sheffield United is tonight.

The club recorded record sales on day one and it’s expected to be a sell-out.

BBC Radio Bristol’s Joe Sims and Toby Crabb look at the venues in the city where you can watch the match.

Ross Crane
BBC West at Ashton Gate

The away support is beginning now to file in.

Mother and son Dave and Lisa have travelled down from Yorkshire with their friend Dave.

They’re feeling “quietly confident" and Liam reckons Sheffield United are “clearly the better side.”

Fighting talk!