Burnley
Blackburn Rovers
Coventry City
Derby County
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
Norwich City
Portsmouth
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United
QPR
Bristol City are typically the Championship mid-table dwellers, but supporters are now excited about their play-off campaign as they aim to do the unthinkable.
On a dramatic final day of Championship action, Bristol City achieved their top-six destiny the hard way by coming from two goals down to draw against Preston North End.
An incredible double from Ross McCrorie sparked scenes of pandemonium at Ashton Gate, as Bristol City clinched a Championship play-off finish for the first time since 2008.
The Robins were beaten by a Dean Windass wonder strike at Wembley on that occasion, but ahead of their two-legged clash against Sheffield United, Liam Manning will be hopeful of tactically outsmarting Chris Wilder.
Manning has done an excellent job this season, and a fairytale promotion to the Premier League would put the icing on the cake, though the Englishman does have at least one concern to deal with.
- READ MORE: Sky Sports pundit makes ‘completely wild’ claim in Bristol City vs Sheffield United score prediction
Andy Hinchcliffe says the injury to Cameron Pring is a ‘major blow’
Bristol City came through the last game of the normal Championship season without any injuries, much to the delight of the manager.
However, left-back Cameron Pring missed the final two matches of action after picking up a hamstring injury just 20 minutes into their Easter Monday defeat to Luton Town.
Pring, who has made 32 appearances and grabbed three assists from left wing-back and centre-back this term, was expected to be sidelined for the next few weeks after receiving the results of his scan.
The 27-year-old is an important player for Manning, and ahead of the tie against the Blades, Andy Hinchcliffe felt his injury was a ‘major blow’ to their chances of winning.
“So I think, yeah, Sheffield United clearly go into the tie and even the playoffs as favourites,” Hinchcliffe said on the Essential EFL podcast.
“But as we talked about with Liam Manning, he will have a plan. He’ll know all about Sheffield United, do all the assessments, set his team up, depend on who’s available as well.
“That’s the thing with his injuries. He’s really kind of now got a decision to make with Cameron Pring being out as well. That’s a major blow. He won’t play, we presume, in the playoffs now. So he’s getting that game plan right.”
Liam Manning shares Pring injury update ahead of Sheffield United
Although supporters weren’t expecting the talented defender to feature, Manning has left the door open for his involvement in the play-offs in some capacity.
“There’s a slight possibility,” the Reds boss said via Bristol Live when asked if Pring could feature. “I think there’s a risk with all of it, so we have to make that decision and weigh up the risk.
“We have to see how he is, how he responds and whether that’s possible or not.”
In the absence of Pring, Zak Vyner has stepped into the left centre-back role in the last two matches but with everything on the line against Sheffield United, he would love to have one of his stars available for selection.