Sheffield United have one statistic on their side in the Championship play-off final, they’ve been in this position before

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Sheffield United are preparing for their fourth second tier play-off final in their history, with Sunderland standing in the way of themselves and an instant return to the Premier League.

The Blades ran out 6-0 winners over Bristol City on aggregate in the semi-finals, while the Black Cats saw themselves past Coventry City in a 3-2 victory.

Dan Ballard dramatically won the tie with a last minute header to send Sunderland to Wembley, as Regis Le Bris aims to take the Wearsiders back to the Premier League for the first time in eight years.

Sheffield United have their own play-off hoodoo to get past if they are to win promotion, but there is one statistic that is on their side ahead of Saturday’s final – however, the South Yorkshire outfit have been in this position before.

• READ MORE – Sunderland vs Sheffield United head-to-head record ahead of the Championship play-off final

Sheffield United have an advantage in the Championship play-off final after finishing third

After competing against Leeds United and Burnley over the course of the season, the Blades eventually finished 10 points behind the top two. Yet they did have a 14 point gap to Sunderland.

History is on the side of the third place team in the Championship play-offs, with Southampton the most recent club to have been promoted at Wembley after finishing in that position. The Saints beat Leeds 1-0 in last year’s final, with Adam Armstrong securing his side’s return to the Premier League.

They were the 9th team to have finished third and won the Championship play-offs from 20 campaigns, with the Hampshire outfit following in the footsteps of Luton Town in 2023 after they beat Coventry on penalties.

However, in terms of second tier play-off campaigns since 1988/99, there is a 36% success rate for sides who just miss out on automatic promotion, while fourth and fifth both have a success rate of 25%, with teams who finish sixth winning promotion just five times (14%).

• READ MORE – Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder makes Newcastle United reference ahead of Wembley clash with Sunderland

Sheffield United have finished third twice in the past before losing in the final

While history is on the side of the team who finishes third, the Blades have been in this position before and on both occasions they have been beaten.

Sheffield United finished third in the 2002/03 First Division season, but they were then beaten 3-0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Millennium Stadium in the final.

They did not fare much better in 2008/09, as Wade Elliott scored one of the greatest Championship play-off final goals to take Burnley to the Premier League for the first time in their history.

Wilder will be hoping that he can create new history with the Blades, as they look for their moment in the sun at Wembley.