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Always a game of such consequence, the top flight is within reach for two proud clubs after setting up a trip to Wembley. Sheffield United pushed Leeds and Burnley close for long periods during the course of the campaign before fading into third, though showed their class in a semi-final thrashing of Bristol City. Sunderland, conversely, made the most dramatic of passages through to this encounter, Dan Ballard’s header breaking Coventry hearts in the last minute of extra time.
Perhaps it was a sign that the Black Cats’ luck has turned after several seasons of toil since dropping out of the Premier League in 2017. Can Regis Le Bris lead them back to where Sunderland fans feel they belong, or will Chris Wilder earn a third promotion with Sheffield United to again prove his managerial quality?
Follow all of the latest from the Championship play-off final with our live blog below:
The prize on the line
Whichever team lifts this will have won so much more than silverware...
Will Castle24 May 2025 14:45
Points gap will not play a factor in who gets promoted, says EFL pundit
That’s the opinion of EFL pundit Don Goodman, who told FruityKing: "I can't see the points gap between Sheffield United and Sunderland being reflected in the play-off final at all.
"Sunderland have been in the top four all season and, despite having a terrible finish, they showed a level of consistency for two-thirds of the league season.
"It's tough to call. Most wouldn't have expected Sunderland to beat Coventry after enduring a horrendous end to the season. It will be a fascinating battle between two smart managers.
“I'd say Sheffield United are favourites but no one at Sunderland will be offended or bothered by that. Logic would tell you, though, that a team with 92 points will be promoted but the flip side to that argument is could it be written in the stars for Sunderland to be promoted after the way the tie went against Coventry?!"
Will Castle24 May 2025 14:37
"The richest game in football could be one of the louder ones"
Sheffield United against Sunderland would have been a rather big game in 1925. It is in 2025, too. And if 1925 was when United last won at Wembley, the prize for victory - perhaps £200m - is rather bigger now.
The richest game in world football could also be one of the louder ones. Wembley was a sea of red and white on the way in.
Richard Jolly at Wembley24 May 2025 14:35
Sheffield United go to Wembley as favourites
Over the course of the season, Sheffield United showed that they were one of the best sides in the division, perhaps unlucky to fall into third in a season in which two sides accumulated 100 points.
The Blades still managed to grab 90 points on the way to a third-place finish in the Championship, and with Sunderland next in fourth on 76 points, there was a clear gap between these two in the regular season.
In their two meetings this term, each side won at home and lost away, with the Blades winning 1-0 before Sunderland got revenge in the reverse fixture with a 2-1 victory two months later.
But Sunderland’s win over Coventry was just the Black Cats’ second in their last 10 matches, having last won against Millwall at the end of March.
To add to that, Le Bris’ side have just six goals over their last 10 matches. Sheffield United have won five of their last 10, scoring 16 goals in that time.
Will Castle24 May 2025 14:30
Sea of red and white
Might be a bit difficult to decipher which fans are in which end at first glance...
Will Castle24 May 2025 14:20
The richest game in football
Top-flight football is on the line this afternoon, along with all the riches that come with it.
A reminder that the winners of the Championship play-off final are set to receive a minimum of £220m in extra income, as is the privilege of playing in the Premier League.
Will Castle24 May 2025 14:14
Regis Le Bris focused on making sure Sunderland take their chance to step up
Regis Le Bris will not allow the prospect of Premier League riches to distract him as he attempts to guide Sunderland back into the big time.
The 49-year-old Frenchman, who arrived at the Stadium of Light last summer after suffering relegation from Ligue 1 with Lorient, stands on the brink of a promotion which some experts suggest could net his club up to £220million.
He said: “I know the details, but I can’t focus on it because my only focus is the game. After that, we’ll have consequences, positive or negative.
“It will be positive because even if we are not promoted at the end of the season, we can feel that the club is growing again and we have good signs for the future.”
Will Castle24 May 2025 14:10
Line-ups CONFIRMED!
Sheffield United XI: Cooper; Choudhury, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows; Campbell, Peck, Souza, Hamer; Brewster, Moore.
Sunderland XI: Patterson; Hume, Ballard, O'Nien, Cirkin; Neil, Bellingham; Mundle, Le Fee, Rigg; Mayenda.
Will Castle24 May 2025 14:02
How the teams got to Wembley
Here’s a reminder of who Sheffield United and Sunderland had to beat in the semi-finals to reach Wembley, as well as how they fared in the regular Championship season:
Sheffield United - 3rd, 90 points
First leg: Bristol City 0-3 Sheffield United
Second leg: United 3-0 Bristol City (agg 6-0)
Sunderland - 4th, 76 points
First leg: Coventry 1-2 Sunderland
Second leg: Sunderland 1-1 Coventry (agg 3-2)
Will Castle24 May 2025 13:46
Blades boss hopes George Baldock is remembered ‘in an incredibly positive way’
The right-back, who played 219 times in seven years for the Blades before being released at the end of last season, tragically died in October, aged 31.
“Every club has got their own stories,” Wilder said. “This is a story that’s not fabricated, it’s not false.
“This is somebody that was an incredibly popular player for the football club, who some of the players that are still with us played with and lived nine or 10 months of their lives with.
“These are all things that have happened to us, and I think the club and the players have handled it incredibly well and gone about it the right way. Remembering George, which is really important.
“It won’t be the be-all and end-all. It won’t be anybody’s fault if we don’t get the result we want and it won’t be the reason if we do get the result we want. But it’s just part of life. Unfortunately people lose their lives.
“There are sad stories to go with happy stories, but hopefully we can remember George, which we have done so far this season, in an incredibly positive way on Saturday afternoon.
“You’d have to ask the players what motivation it gives them. They’ll have their own motivation. But he’s with us. We’re proud of his contributions to our football club and incredibly sad he’s not with us.”
Will Castle24 May 2025 13:30
English (US) ·