Championship news: Sheffield Utd vs Sunderland – Who fares best in the play-offs?

Following two very different Championship play-off semi-final ties, with one ultra-competitive and the other a landslide, Sheffield United and Sunderland will duke it out for a place in the Premier League next season.

In the semi-finals, United comfortably dispatched sixth-placed Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate – the most one-sided aggregate score in the league’s play-off history – and will go into the final brimming with confidence.

The Black Cats, meanwhile, left it as late as physically possible to see off Frank Lampard’s Coventry City as the impressive Dan Ballard capped off another strong defensive performance with an unorthodox header that snuck under the crossbar two minutes into extra-time stoppage time.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Samuel Leasley takes a look at the last three play-off campaigns for both finalists and predicts who will seal their palace amongst the elite.

Sheffield United

2021-22

The most recent play-off campaign for the Blades was in the 2021-22 Championship season, which saw the club recover from a poor start to finish fifth on 75 points.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side were then matched up with Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals.

A narrow 2-1 defeat at Bramall Lane saw the sides arrive at the City Ground with everything to play for, and United would go on to complete the turnaround through goals from future Forest man Morgan Gibbs-White and John Fleck to take the tie to penalties.

Unfortunately, the brilliance of Brice Samba proved the difference on the day as Gibbs-White, Fleck, and Conor Hourihane all missed their penalties to send Forest to Wembley.

Forest defeated Huddersfield in the play-off final to seal promotion, while the Blades were promoted automatically the season after.

2014-15

Under the guidance of Nigel Clough, the Blades secured a fifth-place finish in League One to reach the play-offs after narrowingly missing out the year prior.

Sheffield faced Swindon Town in the semi-finals and fell to a gutting late defeat in the home leg after Nathan Byrne snatched a winner for the visitors in the 94th minute to take a 2-1 lead back to the County Ground.

Swindon raced into a 5-1 lead on home turf before being pegged back to 5-3 as the end of regulation time approached.

The Blades then scored in the 88th and 90th minutes to take the scoreline to 5-5 on the night and 7-6 on aggregate, but Clough’s side could not find another goal.

Although Swindon were comfortably dispatched in the play-off final by a ruthless Preston North End, the Blades had to wait two more seasons before their eventual promotion under the guidance of Chris Wilder.

2012-13

A fifth-place League One finish for United saw them meet an unfancied Yeovil Town in the play-off semi-finals. 

Chris Morgan’s side secured a 1-0 win through a deflected Callum McFadzean strike and only needed to avoid defeat at Huish Park to reach Wembley.

However, it was to be play-off heartbreak for Sheffield as a late Ed Upson goal sent Yeovil to Wembley and subjected the Blades to another League One campaign.

Yeovil would go on to reach the Championship thanks to a winner from a relatively unknown defender called Dan Burn.

READ MORE: Leeds United news: Five players that need to be signed by Leeds this summer 

Sunderland

2022-23

Sunderland’s most recent appearance in the Championship play-offs came just two seasons ago after sneaking into sixth spot on goal difference.

The Black Cats then dispatched Luton Town at the Stadium of Light 2-1 courtesy of goals from Amad Diallo and Trai Hume.

Unfortunately, Tony Mowbray’s side fell to a 2-0 defeat at Kenilworth Road, with home captain Tom Lockyer scoring the winner to send the Hatters to Wembley and eventually the Premier League.

2021-22

The Black Cats finished fifth in League One on 84 points to set up a clash with Sheffield Wednesday in the play-off semi-finals.

Ross Stewart secured a win at the Stadium of Light ahead of the second leg at Hillsborough.

After a Lee Gregory opener levelled the scores in Sheffield, Wednesday appeared more likely to progress until Jack Clarke’s cross was diverted home by Patrick Roberts in the 93rd minute to send the Sunderland faithful into pandemonium.

Despite Wembley not being the happiest hunting ground for Sunderland prior to the final, goals from Elliot Embleton and Stewart saw Wycombe Wanderers defeated 2-0 and promotion secured at the fourth attempt.

2020-21

Sunderland reached the League One play-offs in 2021 following a fourth-place finish under Lee Johnson.

Sincil Bank hosted the first leg of the semi-final between the Black Cats and Lincoln City, with the home side taking a 2-0 advantage to the Stadium of Light thanks to goals from Thomas Hopper and current Tottenham man Brennan Johnson.

Despite eliminating the advantage within half an hour in the second leg through Stewart and Charlie Wyke, Hopper struck a killer blow to send Lincoln to Wembley.

Lincoln were defeated 2-1 by Blackpool in the final and Sunderland bounced back the following year to be promoted up to the Championship.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Championship news: The three relegated clubs - Where did it all go wrong?

Prediction

Sheffield United hold the worst play-off record in the EFL, with nine failed attempts to gain promotion racked up alongside not even scoring in their last four play-off finals at Wembley.

However, the comfort they showcased in dispatching Bristol City combined with the utter domination Coventry exerted over Sunderland in both legs of their semi-final will fill Wilder’s side with confidence.

In contrast, after getting bailed out by Ballard, it will need to be a much more assured performance by Sunderland if they hope to return to the Premier League.

Should the Black Cats choose to sit deep, it could either leave them exposed to an impressive Blades attack or exploit United’s inevitable play-off nerves.

It has all the makings of a tight and cagey affair, then.

With that said, I feel luck will remain on Sunderland’s side and see them join champions Leeds United and Burnley in the Premier League next season.

MORE FROM SAMUEL LEASLEY: Wrestling news: The top 10 heel turns in WWE history