“There’s No Negativity in This Group”: Wilder Confident as Sheffield United Head to Ashton Gate For First Leg | OneFootball

The Sky Bet Championship play-offs kick off on Thursday evening, and it’s Bristol City versus Sheffield United at Ashton Gate that gets things underway. With promotion to the Premier League just three games away, both sides enter the first leg knowing the margins will be fine.

It was a dramatic final day for Bristol City, who came back from 2-0 down against Preston North End to salvage a draw and, thanks to results elsewhere, cling to the final play-off spot. Liam Manning’s side have stumbled over the line, picking up just five points from their last five games and seeing their defensive issues worsen at the worst possible time.

The Robins have now gone 11 matches without a clean sheet, conceding nine goals in their final three fixtures. It’s a worrying trend for a side that had built its play-off push on a well-organised back line earlier in the season. To make matters worse, injuries have depleted their squad.

Robins And Blades Have Fitness Issues to Contend With

Luke McNally and Mark Sykes are confirmed absentees for the rest of the season, and Cam Pring remains a doubt with a hamstring issue sustained on Easter Monday. Joe Williams and Scott Twine are being managed carefully, though Twine did make a return in the final-day draw at Deepdale.

In terms of team news, Wilder has minimal concerns. Femi Seriki misses out due to a shoulder injury but could be back for the second leg. Ben Brereton Diaz, who missed the final game of the season due to illness, remains a doubt.

Bristol City And Sheffield United Share Play-off Misery

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Players from both teams try to separate Jack Robinson of Sheffield United and Jason Knight of Bristol City as they clash during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Bristol City FC at Bramall Lane on March 11, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Both sides head into another play-off campaign knowing that they can make history, with neither side ever winning promotion via this route – this will be the sixth attempt for Bristol City and United’s ninth attempt.

Historically, first-leg semi-finals have not been kind to the Blades either; they’ve only scored more than once in the first leg of a play-off tie once (2-1 vs Sunderland in 1997/98) and have never won a first leg away from home.

Chris Wilder Previews Bristol City vs Sheffield United First Leg

BRISTOL, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: Chris Wilder, Manager of Sheffield United, celebrates after the match during the Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City FC and Sheffield United FC at Ashton Gate on November 05, 2024 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Despite the slight edge in form heading into the play-offs, as well as finishing 22 points ahead of Bristol City in the league, Wilder is remaining grounded.

“I’d rather be sitting on a beach somewhere right at this particular moment having achieved something. But, I’ve had a little taste of it [winning promotion via the play-offs],” Wilder told the media.

“Everyone talks about the best way to go up is through the play-offs and at Wembley. We’ve got two unbelievably difficult games before that. I’ve got too much respect for the game, too much respect for the opposition, and the opposition manager, and the opposition club, to think that: because we are points ahead in the league standing and we’ve come out of the Premier League, that this is going to be straightforward; it isn’t.”

“Everyone talks about going up at Wembley, but we’ve got to deal with two really difficult games first and foremost against a very talented group of players that we’re up against that we’ve seen here at Bramall Lane, they were very good on the night. Obviously two tight games that we’ve played against them so I’m expecting it to be no different in both games over the next four or five days,” he added.

Still, the Blades boss spoke with quiet confidence about his team’s chances, particularly on the road:

“We believe at our best that we can compete with any team in the division and our away record this season has been absolutely outstanding. We need to continue in that vein of form.

“We need to be consistent in our approach and that has been to go and win. We might have to suffer and be pushed back but I think they’ll recognise that we have threats and can hurt any team.”

He also praised the mentality of his players after their reset post-Burnley defeat:

“There’s no negativity in this group. I’ve been consistent in how the players have been energised after the Burnley game and determined to win a play-off campaign.The proof is in the pudding on Thursday night in our approach, but there’s no change in our approach; we’re going there to win.

“But we understand we’re going to have to play very well to win a football game at Ashton Gate in front of a very passionate and vociferous home crowd. That reset after the Burnley game has been really important,” he said.