Back-to-back 3-0 victories for Sheffield United ensure they are one step away from an instant Premier League return
Sheffield United have blasted into the Championship playoff final, with a commanding 3-0 win over Bristol City in the second leg at Bramall Lane, completing a 6-0 aggregate victory. For a club with a notorious playoff record, this emphatic performance sent out a clear statement: Chris Wilder’s side is ready for an immediate return to the Premier League.
Despite their troubled history in the playoffs — with nine attempts, five semi-final defeats, and four final losses — Sheffield United have navigated their way through this campaign’s challenge with remarkable ease. Following a bitter near-miss for automatic promotion, missing out by just a couple of games, Wilder’s men took full advantage of their opportunity to reset and prepare for the playoff battle.
The gulf between the teams was glaring: the 22-point difference between third-placed Sheffield United and sixth-placed Bristol City was the largest in Championship history. On the night, that gap was fully exposed, with United delivering a masterclass performance to seal their place at Wembley next weekend.
The game’s opening stages were competitive, with Bristol City having some early chances, but they could not capitalise. As the match wore on, Sheffield United found their rhythm. Kieffer Moore’s header from a corner broke the deadlock, easing the tension at Bramall Lane. As Bristol City struggled to respond, the Blades pounced again — a deflected Gustavo Hamer shot doubled their lead.
With the result almost secure, Wilder rotated his side, resting key players like Moore and Hamer in preparation for the final. The substitutes continued to make their mark, and in the 83rd minute, Callum O’Hare added a third, ensuring that Sheffield United completed the job with the same ruthless efficiency that has characterised their season.
Wilder reflected on the importance of the night and the progress his team had made after a tough season. “You’ve got to enjoy nights like these,” he said. “It’s been a challenging season, and to have a night like this in front of our fans will give them a boost that they deserve.” With Sunderland or Coventry to face in the final, Wilder is now just one win away from securing a return to the Premier League, a feat that would be even more significant given the club’s financial struggles at the start of the season.
Bristol City’s manager, Liam Manning, was proud of his side’s effort, acknowledging that Sheffield United’s quality had ultimately been too much to handle. “We tried to play like us,” Manning said. “We had a go.” Although his team could not overcome the deficit, his achievement in taking Bristol City to the playoffs deserves praise.
The match served as a poignant reminder of Sheffield United’s recent near-misses at Wembley, where they have not won since the 1925 FA Cup final. Wilder is acutely aware of what it would mean for the club and its supporters to end that century-long wait. With two dominant semi-final performances behind them, Sheffield United are primed for a chance to finally bring top-flight football back to Bramall Lane.
