"No doubt" - Exclusive: Don Goodman throws weight behind Sheffield United play-off theory | OneFootball

The Blades will have to break their play-off curse in order to return to the Premier League

Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman believes Sheffield United have a clear advantage in the bid to achieve promotion via the Championship play-offs.

The Blades had been, for a large proportion of the season, fighting it out with Leeds United, Burnley and, at points, Sunderland, in the automatic promotion race, before dreams of an immediate return to the Premier League in such a fashion were dashed after a 2-1 defeat at Turf Moor on Easter Monday.

Chris Wilder's men have since been preparing for life in the post-season lottery as they look to break a long-standing curse, with United unsuccessful in all eight of their previous play-off campaigns, most recently losing to Nottingham Forest in the 2022 semi-finals before achieving automatic promotion the following season, with three of their four defeats in the final also coming at second-tier level.

However, with the regular season drawing to a close on Saturday as the South Yorkshire outfit face off against Blackburn Rovers, who they could face in the semi-finals depending on other results, Goodman believes the Bramall Lane faithful have strong cause for optimism.

Don Goodman dubs Sheffield United "superior" in play-off prediction

The 58-year-old certainly knows what it takes to be successful in the play-offs, having played an integral role in Walsall's promotion in 2000/01 via this particular route, scoring in the Saddlers' 3-2 success over Reading at the Millennium Stadium.

And, speaking exclusively to Football League World, he has backed the Blades to end their aforementioned misery and achieve an instant return to the top-flight in a season in which they began two points behind the rest.

"I think Sheffield United's points tally clearly tells you that they are going to be the superior team of the four that do end up in the play-offs," he explained.

"And, therefore, as long as their heads are OK, they're the best team, there's no doubt," Goodman stated.

"Sunderland have fallen off a cliff, Coventry are not finishing the season well and are under pressure at home against Middlesbrough to get the job done, Bristol City got smashed by Leeds United. Let's have it right.

"The form teams out of all of them are the ones who are the two below, aren't they? Millwall have won five of their last six, Blackburn Rovers have just won their last four," he added.

"Blackburn play Sheffield United at the weekend. It will be interesting to see whether or not they can sneak in.

"But, in answer to your question, Sheffield United are best-placed, there's no doubt that they are the best team of the four," Goodman concluded.

Sheffield United have the quality to emerge victorious in the play-offs

Given their league position and hefty points advantage over Sunderland, never mind the likes of Bristol City and Coventry at this stage of the season, it's no surprise that Wilder's side have been made the favourites.

Despite losing four out of the last six games which proved costly in the automatic race, the Blades squad have, for the most part, responded extremely well to setbacks, and that mentality was on show against Stoke City last Friday with a routine 2-0 victory at the Bet365 Stadium.

United have also only lost once against the sides below them in the play-off mix which is another reason why the likes of Goodman will feel extremely confident in their ability to return to the Premier League, especially with a number of big-game players to call upon, such as creator in-chief, Gus Hamer and top scorer, Tyrese Campbell.

Three points against Valerien Ismael's side will also see them climb over the 90-point barrier, which, if taking history into the equation once more, is another sign that points towards the promised land - only Leeds had accrued over 90 points and failed to achieve promotion in some form since the turn of the century, losing to Southampton in last season's play-off final.