Chris Wilder said that Sheffield United had to do more against Sunderland in January, they need that ‘moment’ at Wembley

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Sheffield United have had a rollercoaster of a season and it is set to come to an end at Wembley on Saturday afternoon, as they face Sunderland in the Championship play-off final.

The Blades have a torrid play-off record, having failed to win promotion in all eight of their previous attempts in the competition, but their excitement has built back up in recent weeks after a strong showing against Bristol City in the semi-final.

Chris Wilder’s side ran out 6-0 winners on aggregate against the Robins, while Sunderland secured their place at Wembley thanks to a last minute Dan Ballard header against Coventry City, with Regis Le Bris’ side now preparing to do battle against the South Yorkshire outfit in the capital.

Sheffield United and Sunderland picked up one win each against one another during the regular season, and Wilder will know exactly what his team have to do right at Wembley if he wants to secure an instant return to the Premier League.

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Chris Wilder was clear on what Sheffield United had to improve on against Sunderland in January

After beating the Black Cats at Bramall Lane 1-0 earlier in campaign, the Wearsiders got their revenge on New Year’s Day as three goals between the sides in just six minutes saw them take all the points in a 2-1 victory.

Eliezer Mayenda and Wilson Isidor both got on the scoresheet in January, while Luke O’Nien turned the ball into the back of his own net at 1-0 to gift the Blades an equaliser.

Nevertheless, it was an extremely impressive victory for Sunderland, and one that kept them firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion – although a poor end to the season saw them fall away from the leading trio.

Wilder was not shy about where his team went wrong at the Stadium of Light, and he said following the final whistle (via: Sheffield United FC): “From my point of view, looking at what we need to do better is, we’ve got enough; Tom Davies, Gustavo Hamer, Callum O’Hare, all the other boys at the top of the pitch.

“They’ve got to find that little bit of quality, that moment. Harrison Burrows has got to find the right cross that gets us back in the game.

“I think if we’d got ourselves back in the game a little bit earlier then I think we would have had the same attitude that we did towards the end and gone for the win. But we didn’t and we have to take our medicine,” Wilder concluded.

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Chris Wilder has to carry over his team’s confidence into the final

After Sunderland’s dramatic victory over Coventry, Sheffield United will know the challenge that they are up against and they can ill-afford the Black Cats taking the initiative at Wembley.

Le Bris is also bidding to end Sunderland’s Championship play-off hurt, but with his young side, anything is possible and the Blades have to take control early on this Saturday.

Confidence should be flowing through Sheffield United after they were a step above Bristol City, and they know that on their day, they can beat just about anybody in the second tier.

Wilder is a Blade through and through, and he has the chance to create a new legacy at Bramall Lane with play-off victory and secure an estimated £240m in the process.