EFL Expert Issues Stark Wembley Warning: Sheffield United Fans Could Be Left Heartbroken in Play-Off Final vs Sunderland!
Sunderland and Sheffield United travel to London this weekend to face one another at Wembley in the Championship play-off final.
Sheffield United have the chance to bounce back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking. Not only that, but they could secure a jaw-dropping play-off prize fund.
In the end, United finished ten points adrift of the top two, and while they were way ahead of the other Championship play-off contenders, it counts for nothing unless they can get over the line at Wembley on Saturday.
Both teams risk losing key players if they fail to win, but the heartbreak on the day is enough to cause any team or fan to spiral. The Blades have so much at stake in that sense.
Sam Parkin’s verdict on Sheffield United ahead of play-off final
Sunderland’s form tailed off at the latter end of the season, but that could be put down to a lack of jeopardy in large part. The Blades, meanwhile, lost four of the last seven league outings when it came down to the crunch and with the pressure on.
That said, Sunderland also have the better of Sheffield United in the head-to-head battle. That is perhaps compounded by the fact Chris Wilder is unlikely to be happy with the EFL’s decision to have Chris Kavanagh in charge of this titanic fixture already.
The third-placed Sheffield United team have an advantage over the Black Cats historically, but, like Ali Maxwell of NTT20, Sam Parkin is concerned by Sheffield United’s end of season form during the run-in when they dropped off.
Speaking to Benjamin Bloom, he said: “They coasted at Bramall Lane [against Bristol City]. So, they’ve not had that pressure build on them in the play-offs so far.
“Ultimately, when it got really tough towards the tail end of the season, Leeds were able to maintain their form — as were Burnley.
“Sheffield United totally tailed off. So, we’ll see how they will deal with it on Saturday. They have won a lot of tight games when they haven’t played brilliantly. I remember them at QPR, won 2-1 on the day, didn’t play particularly well, got over the line, and got players who can produce moments.
He added: “Two games that I covered towards the tail end of the season — must-win games to get promoted automatically — Bristol City at home and Millwall at home.
“1-1 with Bristol City — Bristol City, far and away the better side. Millwall? 1-0 victory at Bramall Lane. Totally did a job on Sheffield United. High pressure games where the expectation was on the home side to go and win and the players couldn’t quite deliver.
“And I just think in that tie between Coventry and Sunderland, [it was] really tight. Spells where there’s a goal either way, teams are camped in, where you had to deal with periods of pressure, and they didn’t have that across the semi-final.
“And I’m sure in the final there will be a spell or two whether they are leading or whether it’s level, where they’re going to have to deal with balls into the box, where they’re going to have to deal with a little bit of disappointment from the supporters, or the Sunderland fans — in contrast — being really up for a period.
“Can they defend their box? Can they execute their gameplan when the pressure is on because the game is tight? In the play-offs, they had the cigar on, didn’t they?”
Gus Hamer could be the man again at Wembley
Wilder has previous play-off success but not with a Sheffield United team who have struggled in these tournament-style matchups historically.
However, these low-margin games can often be decided by someone with a moment of magic. The players with the biggest shows of personality and character can be decisive and the Blades have someone who has already done that previously.
Hamer scored Coventry City’s only two goals in 2023, securing the winner in a 1-0 aggregate win over Middlesbrough and the equaliser at Wembley against Luton Town. If fully fit, you know he will have a huge part to play on Saturday.
The Dutchman can be a wrecking ball out of possession but comes up with match-winning goals and assists regularly. He can be counted upon on the biggest stage, even if his team show signs of nervousness.
