Sheffield United fans are prepared to go to Wembley Stadium on Saturday to face Sunderland in the Championship play-off final, with a place in the Premier League on the line.
The Blades finished third in the regular season, therefore they will play in their home kit in the capital, with fans hopeful that the South Yorkshire club can break their catastrophic play-off record.
However, Sunderland has been strong against Sheffield United this season, and this weekend’s game appears to be as tight as the previous two.
Nonetheless, one statistic benefits Chris Wilder’s side on Saturday, and the Black Cats have no way of changing it.
Sheffield United fans are in the East Stand at Wembley, and Championship sides have a solid record at that end.
Both clubs have received slightly more than 35,000 tickets for the game, and while there is no home advantage, one side of the stadium has produced more winners than the other.
Since the inaugural Championship play-off final was held at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium in 2007, 10 of the 17 victors (excluding Fulham in 2020, when the event was played behind closed doors) have had supporters in the East Stand.
Derby County began this 18 years ago, when they defeated West Bromwich Albion 1-0, and four of the first five victors had their fans on that side of the pitch.
Sheffield United will want to continue the pattern on Saturday, despite being one of the unlucky seven who have been defeated while seated in the East Stand. Burnley’s Wade Elliott scored one of the great play-off final goals against the Blades in 2009, as the Clarets won 1-0.
The last eight winners have alternated between the two halves, with Southampton’s fans seated in the West Stand during their 1-0 victory over Leeds United last season, and Wilder has the possibility to maintain this trend.
Blades supporters might feel outnumbered in London.
Although the ratio in the stands will be 50:50, Sunderland fans have previously demonstrated their loyalty and love for the club, and London will be packed with Black Cats supporters.
They have a history of convening at Trafalgar Square the night before kick-off, as do their rivals Newcastle United, and the capital may seem like a lonely place to be a Blade.
However, Sheffield United has a very strong supporter base, and Wembley Stadium will be a sea of red and white on Saturday afternoon, with Wilder hoping to maintain his play-off record.
With over 35,000 fans behind him, the Blades have a strong chance of rejoining the Premier League alongside Leeds and Burnley, as they seek to avenge their disastrous 2023/24 first flight campaign, in which they finished last.
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