Football betting tips: Championship
2pts Sheffield United to win at 21/20 (General)
1pt Sheffield United/Sheffield United in HT/FT at 9/4 (General)
BuildABet @ 16/1
- Sydie Peck 1+ shots on target
- Bristol City 5+ corners
- Ross McCrorie to be carded
Sheffield United made a mockery of the pick 'em style odds for victory in the first leg.
The bookmakers priced both the Blades and Bristol City at 17/10 to secure the advantage at the clichéd half-time point in the tie. A 3-0 thrashing putting one foot and four-and-a-half toes in the final.
Harrison Burrows slots home a penalty after Rob Dickie is sent off for bringing down Kieffer Moore ⚽️🟥 pic.twitter.com/yseCHuoTEp
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 8, 2025
Much discussion surrounded the 'controversy' of Rob Dickie's red card just before the break, with Harrison Burrows firing the Blades into the lead from the resulting penalty.
That, though, more like forced controversy. The desire for a talking point. A defender making two clear attempts to drag a player down before looking to win the ball the textbook definition of a red in that situation.
"It's a disgrace," the verdict of Robins boss Liam Manning. He even revealed they had discussion with Kevin Friend at the PGMOL about the refereeing appointment. That in itself also revealing how they're very much not in the frame of mind for a comeback.
"I think it's a DISGRACE!" 😡
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 8, 2025
Bristol City head coach Liam Manning was NOT HAPPY with the decision to send Rob Dickie off 😳 pic.twitter.com/fCvwEOlzL3
A sense of injustice will be there. But putting it simply, they were outplayed.
Joe Williams may have crashed the crossbar with a fierce first-half effort yet the visitors always looked like they were going to strike at some stage.
The red card's given them an excuse. Ultimately, it was a game which played out like a meeting of two teams who finished the regular season 22 points apart.
Just because a team needs to win, it doesn't mean that they will win. I expect that to be the case again on Monday night.
What are the best bets?
I found Chris Wilder's reaction after the final whistle an interesting one.
He made clear to his Sheffield United players that they needed to acknowledge the travelling support but also ensured it was brief, instructing everyone to return to the changing room less than 30 seconds later.
"We were straight off the pitch because the game isn't done. That was our approach. It was a professional performance and now it's up to them to come at us," he told Sky Sports.
He'll be drilling home that point to his players across the weekend. SHEFFIELD UNITED TO WIN on the night is a very appealing 21/20.
The third goal going in on Thursday night probably influenced the price a bit, though they've demonstrated not only in the first leg but across the course of the season that they are just a better team.
United lost just twice against teams sat below them at home throughout the regular season - 15 of the 21 ended in victory which included meetings with play-off participants Coventry and Sunderland.
Given the Robins' desperate situation, I'll also back SHEFFIELD UNITED HT/FT at 9/4.
City need a goal as early as possible if they are to complete an incredibly unlikely comeback, but my gut feeling is that Wilder will be drilling into his players the benefits of striking soon to completely kill off the tie.
Team news
Sheffield United were without Ben Brereton Diaz and Femi Seriki for the first leg victory but the duo could return on Monday night.
However, given their commanding lead, Wilder may be tempting into keeping both as fit as possible for the final at Wembley.
Oliver Arblaster remains a long-term absentee and is likely to be picked up by the Sky Sports cameras enjoying the contest with the fans. Rhys Norrington-Davies is also out.
Bristol City defender Dickie is suspended following his red card and he'll also miss the final if they do the unthinkable and turn things around.
Williams was forced off through injury and could be replaced in the XI by George Earthy who came on for him on Thursday night.
Predicted line-ups
Sheffield United XI: Cooper; Choudhury, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows; Brewster, Vini Souza, Peck, Hamer; Campbell, Moore.
Bristol City XI: O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Pring; Hirakawa, Bird, Knight, McCrorie; Earthy, Mehmeti, Wells.
Match facts
- After winning the first leg of this play-off tie 3-0 at Ashton Gate, Sheffield United are now unbeaten across their last eight games across all competitions against Bristol City (W6 D2). In that time, the Blades have kept five clean sheets in total.
- Bristol City have failed to win any of their last four away games across all competitions against Sheffield United, though three of their last four victories overall against the Blades have come at Bramall Lane.
- Sheffield United have lost each of their last two home EFL play-off fixtures (2-1 vs Nottingham Forest in 2022 & 2-1 vs Swindon Town in 2015), after going unbeaten across their first seven matches at Bramall Lane beforehand (W5 D2).
- In the history of the EFL play-offs just 10 of 60 teams have progressed from the semi-final stage after losing their first leg on home soil, though no side has ever come back from a three-goal margin of defeat at home in the first leg to reach the final.
- Throughout the regular season in the Championship, Sheffield United kept 12 clean sheets across their 23 home league games, with only top two sides Leeds (14) and Burnley (15) managing more.
- During the regular season, Bristol City won just four of their 23 away Championship games, with only five sides in the division managing fewer. Amongst the teams who finished in the top six in 2024-25, they faced the most shots (328), shots on target (106) and recorded the highest xG against tally (32.3) on their travels.
- In the first leg of this play-off tie, Sheffield United recorded 2.77 xG in total, their second-highest tally in any Championship match this season after their 3-0 win over Oxford United in November (3.56 xG).
- Gustavo Hamer created four chances for Sheffield United in the first leg of this play-off tie, the eighth time that he’s recorded 4+ chances created in a Championship match this term. Across the second tier this season, that’s the joint-most of any player alongside Luton Town’s Alfie Doughty.
Odds correct at 1110 BST (09/05/25)
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