Championship news: Sheffield Utd vs Sunderland – Five key battles and score prediction

Saturday sees the culmination of the Championship season as Sheffield United and Sunderland meet at Wembley to battle it out for a place in the Premier League.

The Blades are going for their third promotion to the top flight since 2019, having been relegated at the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign.

Sunderland, meanwhile, are looking to end an eight-year absence from the top tier, a period that included a spell in League One.

Sports News Blitz writer Liam Caffry considers five key battles to anticipate in what is commonly regarded as the sport’s most lucrative match.

Chris Wilder vs Régis Le Bris

These two managers have locked horns twice this season, with each coming out victorious on one occasion.

When the sides met in November, United controlled the game and had the better chances but couldn’t break the Black Cats down.

Chris Wilder’s second-half changes ultimately proved the difference as substitute midfielder Tom Davies scored late on to win the game.

Régis Le Bris evidently learned from that, because when the Blades visited the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day, he opted for a very attacking 4-4-2 formation which proved too much for the visitors.

Considering Wilder’s astute use of resources and Le Bris’ consistent ability to adapt, it should prove to be a great tactical battle at Wembley.

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Kieffer Moore vs Dan Ballard

Here we have two semi-final heroes who will have each other’s number come Saturday.

Welsh international Kieffer Moore only has six goals to his name this season, but he has seemingly hit form at the perfect time, notably winning a penalty in the semi-final first leg against Bristol City which resulted in a red card that would be the deciding factor in the tie.

Moore then converted late in the first half of the second leg to settle the Blades’ nerves and push them on their way to another 3-0 win over their opponents.

Dan Ballard will relish the opportunity to get into a physical battle with Moore, though.

Sunderland’s star man in the semi-final made 34 headed clearances over two games while up against two tough strikers in Brandon Thomas-Asante and Haji Wright.

The Northern Ireland international subsequently scored a 122nd-minute equaliser to send the Black Cats to Wembley.

At Wembley, Sheffield United will most definitely need to consider his threat in the box.

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Gustavo Hamer vs Trai Hume

The Championship Player of the Season comes up against Sunderland’s Player of the Season as Gustavo Hamer and Trai Hume clash.

Hamer is playing out of position on the left-hand side but is doing so for the benefit of the team.

The midfielder has 10 league goals plus seven assists this season and is proving very effective from deep, with his tendency to drive inside to create chances potentially a problem for Northern Irishman Hume.

Hume, for his part, offers a game based on making big tackles on players attempting to get down the line.

As a result, if Hume is pulled into chasing a player as tricky as Hamer infield, it may lead to an early yellow card and put the handbrake on the full-back’s game.

At the same time, Hamer is well-known for not tracking back towards his own goal and Hume is a big attacking threat – this battle may therefore present an opportunity for Sunderland to punish Sheffield United for poor shape in the transition.

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Anel Ahmedhodzic vs Eliezer Mayenda 

Next up is a pair of players who are at different stages in their careers but remain vital to their respective teams.

Anel Ahmedhodzic has been an ever-present in the Sheffield side this season, very rarely putting a foot wrong in giving them the third-best defensive record in the Championship.

The Bosnian certainly knows what it takes to get into the Premier League and, at just 26 years of age, he will be wanting to spend his best years in the top flight.

After a tough start to his time on Wearside, Spanish striker Eliezer Mayenda has earned the trust of Régis Le Bris and continues to prove his doubters wrong.

Indeed, he has been a breath of fresh air for the Black Cats lately, scoring nine goals and grabbing the winner in the semi-final first leg against Coventry City.

The 20-year-old has a scary amount of pace, power, and trickery, and Ahmedhodzic will have to watch even the simplest through ball from Sunderland to ensure Mayenda is kept quiet.

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Sydie Peck vs Enzo Le Fée 

Sydie Peck is going to be tasked with one of the hardest jobs on the pitch: stopping Enzo Le Fée.

The midfielder has had a fantastic season for the Blades, playing nearly every game for a team that finished on 90 points.

He is a great box-to-box midfielder and is moreover not afraid to get into a battle, but his contest with Le Fée on Saturday could very well define his season.

Speaking of Le Fée, he looks to be returning to his natural position behind the striker for the final game of the season – something the Championship hasn’t witnessed yet.

The Frenchman, remember, has drifted into the position from left midfield twice in two games and gained two assists for his troubles.

In the end, Le Fée’s quality is at its peak when he is high up the pitch, and that is where Peck will have to keep him quiet.

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Analysis

Both teams have been a step above the rest of the Championship this term, even keeping up with the top two for a while despite the gulf in quality.

The competition in the play-off final is thus the tightest it could have been, with both teams knowing how to beat the other and willing to put everything on the line.

It might be a cagey affair to start, but things should settle down and develop into a great final for the neutral.

Looking ahead to the weekend, it seems a case of firepower vs adaptability as big-spending Sheffield United take on a well-built side in Sunderland.

I think it will be a close game on the whole, with Sunderland managing to put an end to their near decade-long misery in extra time.

Score prediction: Sheffield United 1-2 Sunderland AET (25/1 with Bet 365)

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