EFL Expert makes claim on Sheffield United veteran despite him ‘lacking in confidence’, Bristol City will have fears

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Sheffield United take a healthy 3-0 advantage into the second leg of their Championship play-off scrap with Bristol City on Monday evening.

It was a night to forget for the Robins, as Rob Dickie’s controversial red card left them with just 10 players on the stroke of half-time. The penalty that he conceded allowed the Blades to take the lead through Harrison Burrows before Andre Brooks and Callum O’Hare secured the win.

Chris Wilder knows that all his side have to do now at Bramall Lane is avoid defeat by three or more goals to confirm their place in the Championship play-off final without having to go to extra-time or penalties.

Experience could be the key once again for Sheffield United against Bristol City and after doing the hard work in the first leg, one of their most veteran players earned plenty of praise for his performance – despite not finding himself on the scoresheet.

Ali Maxwell praises Kieffer Moore for Sheffield United impact

Wilder has rotated his forward options over the course of this season, with Kieffer Moore, Tom Cannon and Tyreece Campbell all sharing the responsibility of leading the line for the South Yorkshire outfit.

While the latter has found the back of the net the most out of the trio for the Blades, it was the former who perhaps had the greatest impact at Ashton Gate, even though he was not able to find the back of the net himself.

Moore was brought down for the penalty in the first half, while he was a constant threat in the final third throughout the game – leading to Ali Maxwell singing his praises.

He said: “[Rob] Dickie and the other centre-backs really struggled with Kieffer Moore and the players around him.

“I don’t think Moore looks anything like prime Kieffer Moore right now and certainly not in front of goal, where he looks really lacking in confidence. But the goal just showed what he offers, even if he’s not scoring goals as a focal point.”

Maxwell continued: “It’s funny that it was him running onto a flick on rather than the other way around. But even that, I think, reflects that he’s always going to drag centre-backs towards him because he is such a focal point. It does just create more space for the other attacking players.”

Kieffer Moore will be hoping to end his goal drought on Monday

While his impact was felt greatly at Ashton Gate, Moore will be keen to get in on the action on Monday as he looks to end his nearly five month goal drought.

He last found the back of the net on December 21 against Cardiff City as he smashed in a brace in a 2-0 win, but he has not added to the five goals that he has scored in 2024/25 since then.

Historically, Sheffield United have Bristol City’s number and the Robins will have to come out firing in S2 if they are to have any chance of overturning the 3-0 lead that the Blades have and this could give Moore even more freedom up front.

Nonetheless, the 32-year-old will more than happily extend his goal drought if it ensures that his side progress as the Blades look to end their play-off hoodoo.