Sheffield United were once humiliated by Bristol City in the play-offs in a unique way

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Sheffield United and Bristol City are facing off in the Championship play-offs this season, but the two teams once met way back in the ’80s and it was the Blades who suffered an awful fate.

Chris Wilder’s men were so close to securing automatic promotion this season, but were pipped to it by the impressive Burnley and Leeds United.

Now, Sheffield United are the favourites to go up via the Championship play-offs, and their 3-0 win away at Bristol City on Thursday night did them a world of good.

Our team predicted the Blades would win the play-offs, and they’re making us look good so far. However, many years ago, they were on the wrong end of a brutal beating in the competition at the hands of Bristol City.

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Sheffield United suffered the most brutal fate via play-offs in 1988

More than 30 years ago, in the 1987/88 season, the Blades had finished in 21st place in the old Second Division. While Reading and Huddersfield Town were relegated, United had a chance to save their skins.

They would have to take on Bristol City, who had finished fifth in the old Third Division, in the play-off semi-finals. Just like this season, the Blades and the Robins went head-to-head to decide their respective fates.

However, in this old system, United had to win to have a chance of staying up, while Bristol City would have an opportunity to play in the final and win promotion.

Incredibly, despite being a division lower, Bristol City triumphed, condemning Sheffield United to relegation.

Bristol City won the first leg 1-0 in front of a bumper crowd at Ashton Gate, with a goal coming from Alan Walsh via a long throw from Steve McClaren (yes, that Steve McClaren).

In the return fixture at Bramall Lane, the Blades could only muster a 1-1 draw and were dumped into the Third Division.

Bristol City would ultimately go on to lose the play-off final against Walsall, but that tie had to be settled by a replay after a 3-3 draw across the initial two-leg final (Walsall won 4-0 in the replay to romp to victory).

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Sheffield United have one foot in the final now

This time round, there looks to be no chance of Sheffield United suffering a similar fate at the hands of Bristol City, with a comfortable 3-0 lead in the play-off semi-final first leg last week.

Many now suspect United have one foot in the final, but Chris Wilder will not be letting his players rest on their laurels just yet.

Indeed, Wilder’s bizarre actions at full-time on Thursday, when he ran over and forced his players into the dressing room mid-celebration, suggest he knows there is still work to be done in the second leg.

Wilder is desperate to fix Sheffield United’s play-off record — they have failed in all eight attempts to get promoted via this route — and in doing so, he could make history, with United going up as a play-off winner with the most points ever in the Championship.