How many wins Sheffield United might need to finish in the play-offs - even this might be beyond Chris Wilder | OneFootball

Blades have lost their opening six league games and conceded 13 goals in the process

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder faces an extraordinary challenge to salvage his side's Championship campaign.

Having started his third spell at Bramall Lane with the club rooted to the bottom of the table with zero points - and losing his first game back - the 58-year-old has to confront somewhat of a mathematical mountain.

With Blades having only scored one goal while conceding 13 in their opening six matches, this is surely one of the most daunting prospective turnarounds in recent Championship history.

Additionally, in the 20 years of the Championship, United are only the fourth team to lose their first six games - and two of those were subsequently relegated.

How many wins Sheffield United might need to finish in the play-offs

No team in the EFL has endured a worse start to the 25/26 campaign, with Sheffield United the only side from the second, third, and fourth tier yet to register a single point.

BBC Radio Sheffield commentator, Adam Oxley, revealed that on average, Championship teams require 78 points to secure a play-off position.

For the Blades to get to that tally from their current position, 26 wins are needed from their remaining 40 matches.

Historical precedent offers little comfort for Wilder's mission though. Only two teams in Championship history - Sunderland in 05/06 and Nottingham Forest in 21/22 - have secured promotion after losing their opening four matches.

United have obviously added two more games to that unwanted benchmark, but if any manager possesses the credentials to turn things around, Chris Wilder is probably the club's best hope.

Promotion is still the goal for Sheffield United this season

Wilder was obviously reappointed by Sheffield United earlier this month, three months after he was replaced by Ruben Selles in June after losing last season's play-off final to Sunderland.

Part of the club's statement on Wilder returning read: "The board felt it necessary to make a change in order to stabilise performances and strengthen our push for promotion."

By including "push for promotion", it now seems silly that the club's owners, COH Sports, made the decision to part ways with someone who has already achieved two Premier League promotions with Sheffield United in the first place.

Despite the manager's proven pedigree, players who finished third in the Championship just four months ago have probably had all the confidence of another promotion push knocked out of them.

Also, the club has never achieved promotion via the play-offs despite ten previous attempts - losing all five finals they have reached.

After losing against Sunderland at Wembley, Wilder said: "It's not luck, it was in our hands." For the remainder of this season, it's certainly in his hands to rebuild the team's confidence, but getting to the average play-off tally of 78 might be too big of an ask.