Sheffield United meet Sunderland at Wembley Stadium in the 2024-25 Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final.
Chris Wilder’s Blades swept aside Bristol City in their semi-final and now have a shot at achieving an instant return to the Premier League if they take victory in this showpiece play-off final.
Sunderland needed an extra-time header from Dan Ballard to eliminate Coventry in a tense second leg of their semi-final, which now means that they will end an eight-year top-flight exile if prevail under the Wembley arch.
Team News
Femi Seriki is set to be available for Sheffield Utd after a shoulder injury forced him to miss the second leg of their play-off semi-final against Liam Manning’s Robins.
Oliver Arblaster (ACL), Rhys Norrington-Davies (groin) and Jamie Shackleton (foot) remain ruled out.
Sunderland have no fresh injury concerns coming into this game as Ahmed Abdullahi (groin) and Aji Alese (leg) look likely to be part of the substitutes bench at best.
Jayden Danns (back), , Ian Poveda (unspecified) and Niall Huggins (knee) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Sheffield Utd meet Sunderland at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 24 May at 3pm BST, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Football in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Sheffield Utd’s first play-off final against Sunderland, although the pair met in 1998 play-off semi-finals which the Black Cats won 3-2 on aggregate.
- Sunderland are playing Sheffield Utd at Wembley Stadium for the first time in all competitions.
- Callum O’Hare scored in both of Sheffield Utd’s 3-0 wins over Bristol City in their Play-Off semi-final.
- Sunderland have kept no clean sheets in their last seven games (W1, D1, L5).
- Sheffield Utd have lost all four previous EFL Play-Off Final appearances (L4).
- Sunderland have won one of their four previous EFL Play-Off Final appearances (W1, L3).
Prediction
Having both clinched victory at home during the regular season albeit separated by a single-goal margin in both fixtures, there is little to separate Sheffield Utd and Sunderland coming into this game before even consider their dismal play-off records.
In regard to Sheffield Utd, they were absolutely excellent in their play-off semi-final but I do worry that it might of just been too easy if the players don’t step up here, so a strong start is needed from them and ideally the opening goal if want any chance of ending their play-off hoodoo.
Sunderland meanwhile gambled on a formation change for both legs of their play-off semi-final against Coventry compared to the regular season, so I am keen to see if Regis Le Bris sticks or twist because if he stays with his 4-4-2 line-up which had a great press and intensity then they could be a huge issue for Wilder’s Blades.
Either way, I expect a tough battle but if Sunderland do go for their recent formation then I wouldn’t be shocked if they nick this given their slightly better play-off final record, but Sheffield Utd have the quality needed to get promotion done so a single goal could again be the difference.
Prediction: Sheffield Utd 1-2 Sunderland
Result: Sheffield Utd 1-2 Sunderland
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