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Sheffield United have put one foot in the final after a 3-0 win in the play-off semi-final first leg against Bristol City.
Bristol City ended a 17-year wait to get into the play-offs, having been the Championship’s dark horses all season. The Robins’ impressive home record has been what they have leaned on all season long to make it to the Championship play-off semi-finals.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  LeedsLeeds | 46 | 29 | 13 | 4 | 95 | 30 | 65 | 100 |
| 2 |  BurnleyBurnley | 46 | 28 | 16 | 2 | 69 | 16 | 53 | 100 |
| 3 |  Sheff UtdSheffield Utd | 46 | 28 | 8 | 10 | 63 | 36 | 27 | 90 |
| 4 |  SunderlandSunderland | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 58 | 44 | 14 | 76 |
| 5 |  CoventryCoventry | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 64 | 58 | 6 | 69 |
| 6 |  Bristol CityBristol City | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 59 | 55 | 4 | 68 |
The Blades finished third in a three-horse race and were always likely to be favourites here, but Chris Wilder’s side also win the head-to-head record between Bristol City and Sheffield United by a landslide as well.
After a 2-1 win at Ashton Gate and a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane, the Blades romped into a three-goal lead in the away leg and look likely to make the final without an enormous collapse of ridiculous proportions against Bristol City, giving them a chance to overcome a terrible Sheffield United play-off record.
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Don Goodman makes Bristol City claim as second leg gameplan is clear against Sheffield United
Experts outlined ‘major blows’ pre-match, but Rob Dickie’s first half red card was a huge blow to the gameplan of Liam Manning and his side. Ali Maxwell predicted that this would not be the best version of this team that has been seen this season.
The EFL expert also outlined red flags surrounding their recent defensive record, but Dickie’s moment allowed the Blades to take an early lead after Joe Williams struck the bar and Tyrese Campbell’s goal was ruled out for offside in a frantic start to proceedings.
Manning is unlikely to have been pleased with Oliver Langford being selected for the game, but even more so after seeing his side reduced to a man less to make it an uphill battle from that moment onwards.
Andre Brooks and Callum O’Hare compounded that, which had Don Goodman talking up their chances of making it to Wembley ahead of Bristol City, who may now be playing for pride only in the second leg of the play-offs at Bramall Lane.
Gary Weaver said: “It’s not over yet, but United know they go back to Yorkshire with a three-goal advantage. They have one foot in the final heading up to Bramall Lane.”
As the away end sang ‘we’re going to Wembley’, Goodman remarked: “You can’t blame them.
“They would have kicked themselves had they not gone on to score again. Sheffield United aren’t messing about.
“I think Sheffield United fans might be forgiven for getting a little bit ahead of themselves.”
On Bristol City, he added: “They’ll be playing for pride first and foremost. 11 versus 11, can they go and have a right go at Bramall Lane?”
Our player ratings at Ashton Gate reflected the gulf in class between the sides on the night, leaving Bristol City with plenty to do in the reverse fixture.
Crazy things can happen in the play-offs — which Sheffield United know well
Leeds United took a 1-0 away win back to Elland Road against Derby County in 2019, racing into a two-goal lead shortly after that as well. That was before capitulating to a 4-3 defeat on aggregate in the second half.
That was not foreseen, given that it was third against sixth, but strange things happen during play-off campaigns. The Blades were 2-1 down to Swindon Town in 2015 but one of the most famous games in play-off history then followed.
They played out a to and fro ding dong battle which ended 5-5 and 7-6 on aggregate. Anything can happen, which is why Bristol City must have belief heading up to South Yorkshire in the second leg.
It looks bleak right now, but Manning needs to find a way to pick his players up as they head to a stadium which has seen 3-1 and 2-0 defeats to Leeds and Burnley, as well as a 3-0 defeat to Hull City, too.