Sheffield United 3-0 Bristol City (Agg: 6-0): FLW reports as Blades emphatically reach Championship play-off final | OneFootball

Report, ratings, attendance and more as Sheffield United host Bristol City at Bramall Lane in the Championship play-offs.

Sheffield United are just 90 minutes away from a Premier League return, after a convincing two-legged display against Bristol City to reach the Championship play-off final.

Chris Wilder's side carried a 3-0 lead back to Bramall Lane after a professional performance last Thursday at Ashton Gate, and stepped up when it mattered most tonight, winning 3–0 thanks to goals from Kieffer Moore, Gus Hamer and Callum O'Hare.

They will meet either Sunderland or Coventry City at Wembley on Saturday 24th May in the Championship play-off final.

Sheffield United 3-0 Bristol City

Blades secure 6-0 aggregate win

Bristol City were needing a fast start at Bramall Lane, having headed to South Yorkshire with a mountain to climb following Thursday night's 3-0 defeat in the first leg.

Scott Twine was off-target inside the opening two minutes following a surging run, before Jason Knight and Nahki Wells had shots held by the faultless Michael Cooper.

Tom Cannon and Andre Brooks, then, failed to reach a Gus Hamer cross as the goal beckoned. That, though, was a sign of Chris Wilder's side growing into the half.

Frustratingly for Liam Manning and Bristol City, the first goal went the way of Sheffield United, as Kieffer Moore connected with Harrison Burrows' quality in-swinging corner; Max O'Leary hardly covering himself in glory coming for the ball he was never going to get.

Twine's free-kick early in the second-half was dealt with well by Cooper, before Sheffield United landed another blow from a Burrows corner.

A training ground routine was stepped over by Andre Brooks and converted by Gus Hamer - via a Ross McCrorie deflection - from the edge of the penalty area.

Jason Knight couldn't test Cooper, before some last-ditch Zak Vyner defending denied Tom Cannon adding a third for the Blades.

Cooper was equal to George Tanner's long-range effort, but it was Sheffield United doing the damage in the final third once more, as their bench showed its class.

Tyrese Campbell peeled onto the left and crossed for Burrows, who stepped over the cross and allowed Callum O'Hare to bury a shot beyond O'Leary for a record play-off win.

Sheffield United v Bristol City attendance

26,543

Player Ratings

Sheffield United

Bristol City

Sheffield United too good for Bristol City over 180 minutes

The play-offs are known for throwing up something unpredictable, but for the second season running the team finishing third in the Championship has completely dispatched those in sixth.

Leeds battered Norwich 4-0 last season, and over two legs this year Sheffield United have proved too good for Bristol City with a record-breaking play-off win over two legs.

Rob Dickie's red card at 0-0 in the first leg played its part, of course, but there were 22 points between these two sides after 46 games, and it's shown in the play-offs. The same number separated Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle, who finished 23rd, and underlines the quality of this season's top three.

Chris Wilder reaction

Sheffield United boss stresses importance of Moore goal

Wilder's reaction to a special night: "You've got to enjoy nights like this. It's been an incredibly challenging season for us and to have a night like this at home in front of our spectators gives the boys the boost and the recognition that they really deserve."

Wilder stresses the first goal was key tonight despite a heavy aggregate lead: "It was an awkward one. They are possession-based, a smart side that move you all over the pitch. I thought at times we got caught in-between. I didn't think the press from our front-four was very good for the 20–25 minutes, and they opened us up a couple of times. One goal can change the complete environment and atmosphere of a ground, so getting through that first 20–25 minutes was key. We found a little but of rhythm, found some passes and, on transition, we had a few opportunities. To get the first goal was huge and just settled everybody down."

Liam Manning reaction

Sheffield United "deserved" Wembley spot

Manning happy with Bristol City start: "It was always difficult going into the game tonight off the back of the first leg. The message was to leave it all out there, go and be brave. Do us and play. To be fair to the lads, first 15–20 minutes, we started well and go into some good areas but, ultimately, lacked conviction and quality around the penalty box. Frustrating to concede from the set-piece and how it led to it."

Manning's praise for Sheffield United: "Credit to Sheffield United, Chris (Wilder), the staff, players and fans here in terms of doing it. It isn't easy, so credit to them. They deserved it across the two legs. We have to reflect and use tonight to become better."