Sheffield United

Image source, Rex Features

The kick-off time has been confirmed for the Championship play-off final between Sunderland and Sheffield United.

The English Football League confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the Wembley showpiece will get under way at 15:00 BST next Saturday afternoon, 24 May.

The announcement follows a meeting of the safety advisory group which includes representatives from all relevant agencies and other stakeholders, including the Metropolitan Police and Wembley National Stadium.

The League One play-off final the following day will kick-off at 13:00 BST and the League Two decider will start at 15:00 BST on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May.

All three play-off finals will include the use of VAR, semi-automated offside technology and in-stadia announcements.

Adam Oxley
BBC Radio Sheffield journalist

Image source, Rex Features

The 12th man usually refers to a club's supporters.

The passion from the stands, the noise, the energy to give the players that extra boost to get them over the line.

The Sheffield United supporters will indeed need to be the 12th man at Wembley in the Championship play-off final, but the players already have a 12th man on their side.

In fact, his presence has been felt since 9 October last year.

The death of multi-promotion-winning Greece international George Baldock sent shockwaves not just through the red and white half of Sheffield, but the wider world of football.

George's seven-year stay at Bramall Lane ended just a few months earlier, when the 31-year-old started an exciting new adventure at Greek giants Panathinaikos.

The young father made just four appearances for the 20-time Greek champions before being found dead in the swimming pool of his house in Athens.

George was a hugely popular player and person at Sheffield United with teammates, staff and supporters alike.

It's no surprise the Blades first two league defeats of the season were at Leeds and Middlesbrough in the first two games after news broke of his passing.

There were many tributes at both those games, and the tributes have continued throughout the season.

Chris Wilder held George's number 2 shirt aloft in front of the away end at Hillsborough after the Blades completed a league double against city rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

There was an emotional pause after two minutes in long-time teammate Chris Basham's testimonial game.

Then during the second half of United's play-off semi-final second-leg victory against Bristol City, there were multiple, spine-tingling renditions of George's 'Starman' song, with every single Blades supporter standing and singing at the top of their voices.

There are many reasons to believe that this is going to be the year that Sheffield United finally end their wait for play-off success.

The Blades finished third in the Championship, by some distance. It's their tenth play-off campaign, and it's 100 years since they last won at Wembley. It's also Wilder's first play-off campaign with his boyhood Blades and he's already a play-off winner with Oxford United.

There are stories everywhere in football, and everyone involved in the Championship play-off final will have their own heartfelt story involving their family, friends and/or individual circumstances.

But it just feels like Starman George Baldock is set to inspire Sheffield United to earn their place back among the Premier League's stars.

We asked for your views on Sheffield United's play-off semi-final victory over Bristol City, which sets up a Wembley final against either Sunderland or Coventry.

Here is a selection of views from Sheffield United supporters...

Clive: With the momentum from those last two games I feel we are going to Wembley full of confidence, and having beaten both teams this season I have no worries!

Mark: After nine previous failures in my lifetime, I sadly see Wembley as a chore and duty. But if we actually do it this time and win there for the first time in 100 years and then I didn't go I would never forgive myself. Being a Blade is never easy.

Jonathan Really pleased with the Blades performance and our quality shone through in the end. I don't fancy Wembley as we have a terrible history there. Is this our time? If we do win promotion our US owners will need to dig deep if we are to stay up this time.

Aswad: Feeling very confident in terms of our squad, mentality and form. However, it's a one-off game and anything can happen. Based on past play-off final performances, I just want us to show up and perform like we know we can.

Jimmy: It's the first time in my lifetime we're heading into a play-off final with a squad intact (as it stands, touch wood), so to overcome our reputation and history, it's our best opportunity yet. Hard to feel confident as a Blade, and there's still the horrible feeling of what comes next year if we do win one game, but as they say, win lose or draw, we'll still come back for more.

Neill: Incredible, some of the season's best performances just when we needed it. Looks like Sunderland in the final, I just hope whichever red and white stripes goes up doesn't do the same as the one coming down.

Bristol City fans have also been having their say...

Matt: Overall, I think City were just outdone by a better team. The red card in the first leg extinguished all hope and certainly turned the tide against us. With the injuries to some of our key players, we didn't have that last push to undo a talented team. It's been a great year and a bright future ahead for the City. Good luck to Sheffield United in the final.

Pete: It didn't go wrong, we played above what we were expected to play and all the plaudits to the team for doing so well. With an increased investment in the team we could have got into the Premier League. However, I don't blame Steve Lansdown for not pouring his money down the drain. To get to the final would have been fantastic.

Matty: Instead of focusing on the defeat let's just look at the season on a whole as a success. Definitely punching above our weight with one of the smallest budgets in the league. Hopefully the squad won't get torn apart and we can build on this and the experience can make Manning's men contenders next season.

Ian: Big gulf in class between a Premier League-ready side and a top 10 side that overachieved. But we're a club on the up and given the right additions over the summer we'll be back. I'd rather have what happened than to have our season end in February with another mid-table finish.

Jason: We just don't have the firepower. The 20-point gap between us and the top four teams who have been in the Premier League was on show for all to see.

Chris: As a BCFC fan I am extremely proud of the team, they've had a great season. I think we're heading in the right direction with Manning in charge and maybe if they give him a decent budget in the summer we could be challenging those top spots.

Now the dust has settled, how are you feeling as Sheffield United or Bristol City supporters after the Blades made it through to the Championship play-off final?

Sheffield United supporters can you go all the way and return to the Premier League?

Bristol City fans where did it go wrong?

Come back to this page later on Tuesday to find out what some of you had to say.

Image source, Rex Features

Kieffer Moore says if the Blades can repeat their semi-final form they'll have a good chance of winning the Championship play-off final.

Moore headed the opening goal in the second leg at Bramall Lane on Monday which calmed any Blades nerves after a bright start from Bristol City.

Gus Hamer and Callum O'Hare added gloss to the scoreline after the break and booked a trip to Wembley on 24 May.

The forward told BBC Radio Sheffield: "It was perfect - to a man, everyone was brilliant and the crowd was amazing. The whole atmosphere was unreal.

"We needed that first goal to really assert ourselves. When we scored, the best of our football really came out. We knew what we had to do and it was a very good, professional performance.

"We're very much buzzing and looking forward to Wembley now. We've really shown what we can do over these last two games. If we can bring that and more, we've a very good chance."

Moore had treatment after an awkward landing in the opening half and was withdrawn just after the hour as Chris Wilder made several changes but the striker added: "I jarred my knee but it's not too bad."

Image source, Rex Features

Chris Wilder praised Sheffield United for "getting the job done" on a night when they had "everything to lose".

The Blades withstood a good spell from Bristol City in the opening half-hour at Bramall Lane as the Robins tried to make inroads into a 3-0 first-leg deficit.

Goals from Kieffer Moore and Gus Hamer either side of the break and Callum O'Hare's second goal off the bench in the tie wrapped-up the biggest aggregate win in Championship play-off history and ensured a date with Sunderland or Coventry at Wembley on 24 May.

Wilder told BBC Sport: "That was tough. I don't think the scoreline represented the challenge.

"They're an awkward side and technically a really good one with a smart, intelligent coach.

"We had to be good and I thought we had everything to lose. We had to make sure we got the job done.

"I didn't have to tell the players not to be complacent.

"We didn't get the press right from the off and they found the pockets and played with some freedom but after that we got a foothold and some more control.

"It was a strange one because I've not been in that situation before."

Sheffield United will aim to confirm their place in the Championship play-off final on Monday (KO 20:00 BST) as they carry a 3-0 lead into the second leg of their tie with Bristol City.

The Robins will need to record the second-best comeback in EFL play-off history if they are to overturn the deficit.

The biggest comeback was in League One in 2023 when Sheffield Wednesday came from 4-0 down to beat Peterborough.

• After winning the first leg of this play-off tie 3-0 at Ashton Gate, Sheffield United are now unbeaten across their past eight games across all competitions against Bristol City (W6 D2). In that time, the Blades have kept five clean sheets in total.

• Bristol City have failed to win any of their past four away games across all competitions against Sheffield United, though three of their past four victories overall against the Blades have come at Bramall Lane.

• Sheffield United have lost each of their past two home EFL play-off fixtures (2-1 vs Nottingham Forest in 2022 & 2-1 vs Swindon Town in 2015), after going unbeaten across their first seven matches at Bramall Lane beforehand (W5 D2).

• In the history of the EFL play-offs, just 10 of 60 teams have progressed from the semi-final stage after losing their first leg on home soil, though no side has ever come back from a three-goal margin of defeat at home in the first leg to reach the final.

• Throughout the regular season in the Championship, Sheffield United kept 12 clean sheets across their 23 home league games, with only the top two sides Leeds (14) and Burnley (15) managing more.

• During the regular season, Bristol City won just four of their 23 away Championship games, with only five sides in the division managing fewer.

We asked you for your reaction to Sheffield United's 3-0 win against 10-man Bristol City in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final at Ashton Gate.

Here are a selection of views from Bristol City fans...

Ian: The biggest football event in Bristol for 17 years, Ashton Gate rocking, two mins til half-time, penalty and a red card - City punished twice for a questionable penalty. Game over. 46 games all comes down to an over zealous referee! The decision decided the game! We will return stronger!

Matty: Red card and the injury to Williams changed the game. Once Sheff Utd went 1-0 up it was damage limitation. Can't have any complaints about the result. Proud of what Manning & co have achieved this season.

Jen: What ever happened to the double jeopardy rule? When the ref makes such a blatant error that potentially costs a club millions of pounds a post-match apology isn't really enough. What more can the FA do?

Paul: Really good and competitive game up to the penalty/sending off. I'm old school and it looked like a red to me but Dickie does get the ball and I understand in the rules that exist now that should have been a yellow. It's done in my opinion. Do City have 11 fit players for Monday?

Tim: Sending off and penalty changed the game but if it had been other way round we would have been fuming. After that it was going to be tough. Not sure subbing Nakhi was a great decision. Fair play to Blades they took advantage. We have overachieved this season. Board need to show real ambition now.

Cameron: Never a red. Possibly a pen but Rob Dickie played the ball as well so for me and many others it's not a red. It's in the laws of the game. I think personally that cost us the game. It's best to just to go all out in the away leg on Monday now.

Richard: The game was very open to begin with, the penalty and sending off killed this. It was disappointing as a Bristol City fan and it really spoiled the game and took away all the fun. I think, in that moment, Dickie could have and perhaps at this level, should have done better, given the guy was in on goal, better to let him go than risk the red and penalty.

Tom: Everyone is saying how we were well beaten by the better team, but until the red card it was a close game - a classic Championship game that felt like it could go either way. Unfortunately, the sending off changed that completely, and regardless of whether it was right or wrong, it was silly to give the referee the decision to make in such a crucial game. I genuinely believe that at 1-0 down with 11 v 11 we make a real go of it in the second half and potentially get something from the game. Such a shame, but pressure is off, stranger things have happened in football, so bring on Bramall Lane and something miraculous!

Blades fans also weighed-in...

Lola: Brilliant professional performance from the boys with subs making an impact when coming on. Got nothing to complain about. First foot in the final!

Rob: Brilliant performance. Moore caused them all sorts of problems. Even before the red card we had had the better chances. Has the playoff curse been lifted?

Thomas: That second-half performance is how we should've been playing all season. If we played like that when we lost against Millwall, Oxford or Plymouth we probably had a chance for promotion whether it was automatic or as champions.

Joe: Regardless of getting to the ball or not with his foot, the defender clearly had two arms pulling down the back of a striker that's one on one on goal 10 yards out. Even the most biased opinions can surely see this is a red card whether the Bristol City manager or fan base want it to be or not. Poor decision from the defender to get himself in that position knowing the costs of pulling down the attacker that would likely be at least a penalty.

Steve: Good, solid performance. Chris Wilder got his tactics right, especially when he took the team off early at the end to manage expectations. This is not over until the final whistle on May 24!

Alfie: I thought after the penalty and red card we showed how much we wanted to win and how much we wanted to end this play-off drought. If Wilder does do it it'll be his biggest achievement for us yet. I also think Andre and O'Hare were very big game changers for us when they got subbed on.

Ryan: I thought the Blades performance was professional, especially in the second half when Bristol City sat back. The red card ruined it as a contest but the decision was correct in my opinion. Not getting carried away as there is still a job to do on Monday.

Image source, PA Media

Sheffield United defender Jack Robinson says the Blades "cannot drop off" in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final against Bristol City.

Goals from Harrison Burrows, Andre Brooks and Callum O'Hare have put Chris Wilder's side in the driving seat after a 3-0 win at Ashton Gate.

But Robinson, who won promotion to the Premier League with the Blades two years ago, is taking nothing for granted before Monday's second leg at home.

He told BBC Radio Sheffield: "It's more than we could have asked for, 3-0 is an unbelievable result. You don't get many games in the play-offs where you can take a comfortable lead into the second leg.

"A 3-0 lead, it's more comfortable but we still have to perform. We cannot drop off now but we will try to keep a clean sheet and go on to win it.

"Anything can happen in the play-offs, we have seen that over the years so it is on us now.

"A play-off game is totally different to a league game and we knew that. The atmosphere was rocking but we produced our best which was more than good enough."

Chris Wilder's side host Bristol City in the second leg on Monday, 12 May, with the winners to face either Sunderland or Coventry at Wembley on Saturday, 24 May.

Listen to reaction from Wilder and Robinson on BBC Sounds.

Were you in the stands at Ashton Gate or following the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final from elsewhere? Wherever you were, we want hear from you.

What did you think of Bristol City's efforts?

Any thoughts on Sheffield United's performance?

Come back to this page later on Friday to find out what some of you had to say.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield following their 3-0 win at Bristol City in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg.

"A really professional performance, everybody played their part," he said.

"I saw a glint in the eyes after the Burnley game, really focused, ready for this.

"I thought we got our noses in front with the goal the way that came about, a bit of a contentious decision again and a good bit of play to get ourselves in front of the game – that's good centre forward play, Tyrese flicks it on, Kieffer sticks his body in the way, just about to pull the trigger and he just gets ragged all over the place.

"As far as I'm concerned it was the correct decision, he's an experienced referee, he let a lot go, it was a competitive Championship game. They've made the mistake, not us.

"After that it was about patience, seeing what their shape was after they came out at half-time, how would they go about it and then knowing that maybe we'd get an opportunity to be clinical.

"I'm delighted that we've got a three goal lead, but there's still a lot of work to go into this. There must be a full house at Bramall Lane for this team."

Bristol City host Sheffield United at Ashton Gate in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg on Thursday evening (20:00 BST).

The Robins have won just one of their past five games (D2 L2) on the way to finishing sixth, while the Blades - who finished third - have only won two of their past seven (D1 L4).

United have failed to win promotion via the play-offs on nine previous occasions since the format began in the late 1980s.

• Bristol City are winless across their past seven games against Sheffield United in all competitions (D2 L5), since a 3-2 victory at Bramall Lane in the Championship in March 2019.

• Sheffield United have won five of their past seven league trips to Ashton Gate (D1 L1), with each of their previous three victories via a one-goal margin.

• Bristol City are unbeaten across their past eight home league games (W6 D2), their longest run at Ashton Gate in a single season since a nine-match stint between January and April 2023. In the 2024-25 Championship season, only Leeds United (58), Burnley (51) and Sheffield United (49) accumulated more points on home soil than the Robins (46 – W13 D7 L3).

• Sheffield United will be competing in the play-offs in the second tier for the sixth time, failing to earn promotion on each of the previous five occasions. In that time, they've won just one of their five away semi-final legs (D3 L1), though it did come in their most recent such tie – a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in May 2022, before being eliminated on penalties.

• Bristol City will be playing in their sixth EFL play-off campaign this season and their first since 2007-08 in the Championship. On that occasion, the Robins reached Wembley but lost 1-0 to Hull City; they've never earned promotion via the play-offs on any of the previous five occasions.

• This season, Sheffield United became just the third side in the history of the second tier to win as many as 90 points yet still fail to get automatically promoted, after only Sunderland in 1997-98 and Leeds United last season.

• Only four Championship players this season have created more chances than Bristol City's Max Bird (75), who also ranks fifth for expected assists (8.65).

• In the Championship this season, only Burnley's James Trafford (29) recorded more clean sheets among goalkeepers than Sheffield United's Michael Cooper (21).

Adam Oxley
BBC Radio Sheffield journalist

Image source, Getty Images

25 April 1925 is a key date in Sheffield United's history.

It was the last time the Blades won at Wembley, as they beat Cardiff City 1-0 to lift the FA Cup for the fourth time – the last major honour won by the club.

Well United are potentially two games away from another return to the national stadium, this time in the Championship play-offs.

It will be the 10th time the Blades have contested the end-of-season play-offs, since they began in the late 1980s.

United have never won. They've made four finals – two at the new Wembley in 2009 and 2012, one at the Millennium Stadium in 2003 and one at the old Wembley in 1997 – and they've lost four finals, without scoring.

So could the stars be aligning to end the Blades' 100-year wait for a Wembley win with a first play-off success in 10 attempts?

An immediate return to the Premier League, in these circumstances, would certainly be a headline-writers dream.

But Sheffield United shouldn't need to rely on fate for success this month.

Chris Wilder's latest team of star players aligned this season to comfortably finish third in the Championship.

The Blades accumulated 16 more points than Sunderland in fourth and they took 24 more points than Bristol City in sixth – their opponents in the play-off semi-finals.

In fact the gap from the play-off places to Cardiff at the bottom of the final table is the same as the difference between United in third and the Robins.

It's right to say those statistics are now consigned to history, with four teams having an equal chance of promotion, but the 46-game season should show that the play-offs are United's for the taking.

They have the Championship's player of the season in Gus Hamer, they now have a squad fit enough to provide nine first-team options from the bench – something that hasn't been possible for most of the season - and crucially, they have Chris Wilder.

Not only does the Blades boss bleed red-and-white as a boyhood supporter, but he's a play-off winner with Oxford United, and this is his first opportunity to break Sheffield United's play-off hoodoo.

Anything can happen in the play-offs, history has taught us this, and Wilder won't let his players take anything for granted against three good sides who have all taken points off the Blades this campaign.

But history also shows us that more often than not, the team who finishes third in the Championship, does get promoted via the playoffs. Nine times in the past 20 seasons, this has been the case.

Blades supporters, young and old, have every right to go into the play-offs with more than a hint of trepidation given past failures, but they, and their team, need to stick their chests out and show why Sheffield United are the third best team in the division.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield he was incredibly proud of his side for reaching the 90-point barrier, following the Blades' 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers:

"I thought the performance was a good performance. We knew it was an awkward one with Blackburn Rovers having something to play for so their approach would be on the front foot.

"Second half we were really positive when we went behind. I believe we deserved to win the game but the attitude, the approach to the game was great.

"The overall thing for me is two points per game. It's an incredible achievement in my opinion with the challenges we've had to overcome. The players have given everything for the shirt."

Wilder also stated his concern about the injury suffered to right-back Femi Seriki, which forced his side to play the final stages of the match with 10 men.

"He's off to hospital so that's the disappointing aspect of today but we can't complain, our injury record has been absolutely outstanding," Wilder added.

Blackburn Rovers make the trip to Sheffield United on Saturday (12:30 BST) in a last-ditch attempt to make the play-offs.

Rovers will need to win to have a shot at the top six, as well as bank on at least two of the three teams above them - Bristol City, Coventry City and Millwall - faltering.

If they succeed, they will have also beaten a potential play-off opponent in Sheffield United, who will play the team that finishes sixth in the semi-finals.

Though this game may not have a lot riding on it for the Blades, boss Chris Wilder will want his team to get up to speed for the cut-throat play-offs awaiting them.

• Sheffield United have won five of their last seven league games against Blackburn Rovers (L2), keeping a clean sheet in all five of those victories.

• Blackburn Rovers are winless across their last six away league games against Sheffield United since a 2-1 victory in January 1994 (D1 L5), failing to score in each of their last five visits to Bramall Lane.

• Sheffield United are unbeaten across their last four final league games of a Championship season (W3 D1), scoring 2+ goals in each of those matches.

• This will be the third time that Blackburn have finished a league campaign by facing Sheffield United, beating the Blades 4-0 at home in 1920 before the pair drew 0-0 at Bramall Lane in 1939.

• Newly-crowned Championship player of the season Gustavo Hamer has netted nine goals for Sheffield United in 2024-25, while since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, only nine players have recorded more goal contributions than the Dutchman (38 – 20 goals, 18 assists), despite him spending the 2023-24 season in the top flight.