How Have Sheffield United Fared in Last Five Opening Games in the Championship? | OneFootball

As the 2025/26 Championship fixtures are set to be released on the 26th of June, Sheffield United fans will be eagerly looking to see who they face on the opening weekend.

While opening day results don’t always mean anything come the end of April/early May, the performances do often set the tone for a campaign in terms of what fans can expect in terms of style of play, as well as the mentality of the team.

We have taken a look back at how the Blades have fared on the first day of recent Championship seasons.

How Have Sheffield United Fared in Last Five Opening Games in the Championship?

PRESTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Sheffield United players celebrate following the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End FC and Sheffield United FC at Deepdale.

2017/18: Sheffield United 1-0 Brentford

Returning to the Championship after six years away, Chris Wilder’s side, who won League One at a canter the previous term, announced their comeback with a gritty 1-0 win over an accomplished Brentford side at Bramall Lane on a Saturday afternoon.

Fittingly, it was skipper Billy Sharp who struck the decisive goal early in the game, giving the fans the perfect start to life back in the second tier. It was a performance full of fight with the Blades riding high from the previous campaign. And this momentum and form carried on across the season with United just finishing outside of the dreaded play-off places.

2018/19: Sheffield United 1-2 Swansea City

Despite a thunderous opener from the late great George Baldock, United fell to a late defeat at home to Swansea City at Saturday tea time live on Sky Sports, who from memory played some excellent stuff that day. Future Blade Oli McBurnie equalised before Yan Dhanda sealed it for the Swans with five minutes to play.

It was a tough loss to swallow, but the Blades would go on to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League after finishing runners-up to Norwich City and pipping Yorkshire rivals Leeds United to second.

2021/22: Sheffield United 0-1 Birmingham City

The start of a new era under Slavisa Jokanovic failed to catch fire on Saturday night live on Sky Sports. A Bramall Lane crowd hopeful for a fresh start after a dreadful Premier League relegation watched their side fall 1-0 to Birmingham City. Despite some flashes of quality from the likes of Sander Berge, United never truly found their rhythm.

A flat performance set the tone for a disjointed start to the season under the Serbian, who would depart before the turn of the year and would be replaced by development team manager Paul Heckingbottom, who would guide Sheffield United to a play-off finish which came to an end at the City Ground as the Blades lost to Nottingham Forest on penalties.

2022/23: Watford 1-0 Sheffield United

A tough away trip to Vicarage Road on a Monday night live on Sky Sports saw United narrowly edged out by Watford thanks to Joao Pedro’s strike. Despite a compact performance, a moment of quality from the hosts proved the difference. It was a disappointing result but not one that derailed the campaign as Heckingbottom’s Blades would finish second and secure a return to the Premier League, thanks mainly to the goal contributions of Iliman Ndiaye and his strike partner Oli McBurnie.

2024/25: Preston North End 0-2 Sheffield United

PRESTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 09: Gustavo Hamer of Sheffield United celebrates with Vinicius Souza and Callum O’Hare after scoring their second goal during the Sky Bet Championship.

Back in the Championship after relegation, and back under the leadership of Chris Wilder, the Blades got off to a flying start at Deepdale on Friday night live on Sky Sports.

Oliver Arblaster opened the scoring with a deflected strike after just 15 minutes. Then in the second half, Gustavo Hamer capitalised on a poor clearance, chipping the goalkeeper from 25 yards out. The performance was full of intent and was heavily sparked by the brilliance of Hamer and Vinicius Souza, which could be said for the vast majority of the games last season.

At one stage last term, the Blades were favourites to win the league, but a disastrous week towards the end of the campaign saw them lose three games in a row against Plymouth Argyle, Millwall and Oxford United, and they’d slide to third.

United found themselves in another play-off campaign where they destroyed Bristol City in the semi-finals 6-0 on aggregate, and despite leading for most of the game they choked in the final 15 minutes at Wembley Stadium against Sunderland, which brings us up to the present day.

Who Will Blades Get on First Game of the Season?

Now, we’ll wait and see who Sheffield United will get on opening day in the 2025/26 Championship season, as fans will be eager to see how new manager Ruben Selles shapes and sets up his side.

Four of United’s last five opening Championship fixtures have been live on Sky Sports, which leaves only the Brentford game, almost a decade ago, being the last opening 3PM kick-off they had in the second tier.

I’m predicting Sheffield United will either get Leicester City at home on a Saturday lunchtime kick-off live on Sky Sports, or Wrexham away on the Friday night Sky Sports slot. Who do you think the Blades will get on opening day?