O’Hare lands last blow on Bristol City as Sheffield United barrel into playoff final

For a side with such a horrendous record in the EFL playoffs, the way Sheffield United coasted through their semi-final’s two legs into the Championship’s showpiece game at Wembley did little to suggest they are a team with a hoodoo hanging over their heads.

In many ways, history is stacked against the Blades: nine previous attempts at the playoffs, five semi-final defeats and four heartbreaking final losses. But if there was one crumb of comfort for manager Chris Wilder and his side in missing out on automatic promotion with a couple of games to spare, it was the fact that they had time to regather themselves and prepare for the playoffs.

History has often shown that teams who miss out on the final day of the season struggle to pick themselves up and go again in such a short time. Sheffield United ultimately made light work of the challenge here though, with back-to-back 3-0 wins to end Bristol City’s impressive season and move to within one win of an instant return to the Premier League with Wilder at the helm.

There has never been a greater points gap between the teams finishing third and sixth in Championship history than the 22 that separated these two teams. In truth, that gulf was evidenced even further here – with the biggest winning margin in playoff history a fair reflection of how good Sheffield United have been this season.

Goals from Kieffer Moore, Gus Hamer and substitute Callum O’Hare ensured a six-goal winning margin over the two legs, meant the nerves were ultimately minimal on the night and that only Sunderland or Coventry stand between the Blades and the promised land once again. For a side who were embroiled in financial chaos in the summer, Wilder deserves credit for the job he has done.

“You’ve got to enjoy nights like these,” he said. “It’s been a challenging season and to have a night like this in front of our fans will give them a boost that they deserve. To get through that first 25 minutes was key and then we found a bit of rhythm. We can sit back and watch tomorrow night and enjoy it.”

View image in fullscreen Gustavo Hamer (centre right) celebrates after making it 2-0 to Sheffield United on the night. Photograph: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images

This city was host to the greatest comeback in playoff history two years ago when Sheffield Wednesday overturned a four-goal deficit to defeat Peterborough on the way to promotion back to the Championship. In truth, despite a game effort from the Robins, there was not really a chance of anything like a repeat here under the lights at Bramall Lane.

“I’m really proud of the players,” Liam Manning, the Bristol City manager, said. “You can come here and sit off but we tried to play like us. We had a go.”

He deserves immense praise for taking Bristol City to the playoffs, and his side did not go down without a fight here. They had the better of the early chances and had they claimed an early goal, the nerves may have ramped up a shade or two.

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But when it remained goalless with half-time approaching, you felt the writing was on the wall. United grew in authority and when a smart corner led to Moore heading home, the nerves evaporated inside Bramall Lane. There was no complacency from the Blades, and they finished the job emphatically after half-time with not only two more goals, but a controlled and measured display that reflected how well they have performed this season.

Another set-piece led to Hamer doubling the lead on the night with a well-worked finish and a big ­deflection, a moment which allowed Wilder the opportunity to rest some of his big guns, Moore and Hamer included, with Wembley in mind. Those substitutes also made an impact, with one of them, O’Hare, adding a third in the 83rd minute to nudge Wilder about his chances of a start in the final.

Incredibly, the Blades have not won at Wembley for 100 years: the 1925 FA Cup final. Few know more than Wilder what it would mean for that wait to come to an end next Saturday. These two semi-final performances hint that moment could finally be about to arrive.

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