Billy Sharp reveals one Sheffield United tag v Sunderland AFC that they might not actually want | OneFootball

A spot in next season's Premier League is up for grabs on Saturday.

Billy Sharp has said that Sheffield United will be favourites in Saturday's Championship play-off final against Sunderland, but that's not necessarily a good thing according to the former Blade.

Sharp has experienced the euphoria of going up to England's top flight before, when current boss Chris Wilder guided the Blades to automatic promotion in the 2018/19 campaign that led to two terms in the Premier League and again under Paul Heckingbottom.

The United fan wasn't able to recreate his previous success this time around, missing out on the second tier's top two spots despite reaching the 90-point mark. Their goal had to be achieved via the post-season this time around, and now only Sunderland stand in their way.

Billy Sharp hails Sheffield United as play-off final favourites

The play-offs haven't served either club particularly well in the past. The Black Cats have only ever gone up via this method once in six attempts; the Blades have never tasted glory at the end of a post-season run.

Despite the history, Sharp believe the club he is most synonymous with has the advantage over Regis Le Bris and his players heading into this weekend. However, being expected to win such a big game is not a weight that many teams like to bare, claimed the striker.

"I don’t think anyone wants to come into any game favourites, because it puts added pressure on," the 39-year-old, who has just signed a new deal with League Two title-winners Doncaster Rovers, admitted, via The Star. "But I actually believe Sheffield United will be favourites on Saturday.

"I think Sunderland will quite like that they’re the underdogs. They’re such a big club and big fan base and it’s going to be fine margins like it always is. Goalkeepers making saves or chances missed, or one bit of magic. Both teams have got magic players in their team and they’ll be the ones who are licking their lips on Friday night wanting to be the hero on Saturday.

"My kids are really lucky. Nine and 12 years old and they’ve seen Sheffield United get promoted a few times now; I’ve lost count! So they’re lucky. I’ve been as a fan and a player with heartache in semi-finals and play-off finals. It means everything to the fans. I know it does. Everyone’s excited about the weekend, and I am too.

"It’s mad how the season comes down to 90 minutes of football, at such a great place, and only one team can do it. For Sheffield United to bounce back to the Premier League after getting relegated, it will be a special feeling. So hopefully it can happen."

Sheffield United will have the pressure on them on Saturday

Of the two clubs, it will probably hurt the Blades more if they don't go up. The fan point of view is a different question. There will be some from the Yorkshire city who won't want the probably inevitable season-long beatdown that comes with going up to the Premier League to happen to them again. Sunderland, on the other hand, haven't been at the top table for eight years.

But, getting back to the clubs, the Black Cats will probably be in a much more sound position going forward if they're the ones who lose on Saturday. They will have a young, developing core with an impressive manager. Any players that they may have to sell, like Jobe Bellingham, they'll make a huge profit on. They're just a more future-proof club than the Blades.

Wilder and his team are very much built for the here and now, and a lot of his squad may see themselves as being above the Championship level. Should they fail to climb up that level, things could begin to unravel in a way that it'd be hard to see happening at the Stadium of Light.