This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk’ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
Sheffield United will know just how much is at stake ahead of this Saturday’s play-off final showdown against Sunderland on Wembley Way.
Widely regarded as the most costly game in football, the Blades will be anxious to return to the Premier League at the first opportunity by defeating Regis Le Bris’ team. They do, of course, have a dismal record in the play-offs, but beating Bristol City so confidently and comfortably over two legs instilled tremendous hope in the Bramall Lane supporters.
It all comes down to Saturday afternoon’s showdown, which has a variety of ramifications and permutations. Both sides will be acutely aware that defeat, and the subsequent denial of promotion by default, will expose them to the risk of losing prized assets, and United may rightly fear summer departures for Michael Cooper, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Vini Souza, and star playmaker Gus Hamer if a second season in the Championship awaits.
However, another possibility exists regarding Chris Wilder’s future. Wilder, a modern-day legend in the red-and-white quarters of the Steel City, led the Blades from League One to the Premier League during an iconic five-year spell before returning to the club in December 2023, and, in most seasons, would have secured his second top-flight promotion with his boyhood club without having to go through the play-offs.
| EFL Championship 2024/25 final standings | ||||
| Position | Club | P | GD | Pts |
| 1st | Leeds United (C) | 46 | +65 | 100 |
| 2nd | Burnley (P) | 46 | +53 | 100 |
| 3rd | Sheffield United | 46 | +27 | 90 |
| 4th | Sunderland | 46 | +14 | 76 |
| 5th | Coventry City | 46 | +6 | 69 |
| 6th | Bristol City | 46 | +4 | 68 |
United finished the season with 90 points, but it wasn’t enough to guarantee automatic promotion.
A late-season collapse allowed Leeds United and Burnley to earn 100 points each, with the Whites’ superior goal difference handing the league title to the Blades’ bitter cross-Yorkshire rivals.
Chris Wilder backed to keep Sheffield United job regardless of play-off final outcome
There have been calls on social media for Wilder to be stripped of his duties if he fails to return Sheffield United to the promised land this weekend.
FLW presented the subject to Jimmy, our Blades fan commentator, but he is adamant that Wilder should keep his job whatever of Saturday’s result against the Black Cats.
Jimmy believes Wilder has restored a sense of unity following a difficult season in the Premier League, as well as undertaken a big rebuilding effort, and is the best man to lead the team forward.
Last summer, 10 new players were brought to Bramall Lane to offset a squad exodus that saw 17 players leave the club, and Jimmy believes Wilder’s work in rebuilding the squad should “not be forgotten”.
“If we don’t make the Premier League, Chris Wilder should definitely be Sheffield United manager next season either way,” Jimmy told The Football Weekly.
“It’s easy to forget how much of a rebuilding job Sheffield United faced. He has successfully rebuilt the club in a variety of methods, with six or seven new players joining on a regular basis. He’s brought us back together after there were damaged connections among the fanbase and the club.
“Two victories over Sheffield Wednesday were also memorable and greatly appreciated.
“The only reason we haven’t been promoted automatically is that we’re in the same league as two other clubs who each received 100 points; in any other season, that would have been enough for automatic promotion.
“We’re halfway through the reconstruction, and Chris Wilder will see it through.
“I have full confidence in him and I love that he’s our manager.”
Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United may have a better chance of promotion than Sunderland AFC
As we all know, the outcome of a play-off final can be unpredictable. Form only gets you so far, and it all comes down to who can better manage the occasion and set up the right way, but the simple truth is that United have proven themselves to be a stronger outfit than their opponents, and if they turn up and perform to their full potential, they will most likely return to the top flight at Sunderland’s expense.
The final league standings separated the two sides by 14 points, with United outperforming them at both ends of the play.
That is not to dismiss Sunderland, of course – Le Bris is a shrewd tactician who nullified Coventry City superbly over two legs with his counter-attacking style, and his side boasts firepower with the likes of Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda, as well as the maverick creative threat of talented Frenchman Enzo Le Fee – but United have their own strengths, which they demonstrated in abundance by making absolute light work of a well-drilled Bristol City side in the semi-finals.
Sunderland will be up for the battle, buoyed by their stunning victory over the Sky Blues, but United may be too strong for the Wearsiders if they play to their strengths.
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