Sheffield United Star Keen to Make Mark in First Taste of Play-offs: “We’re 100% Ready to Rewrite History” | OneFootball

The Sky Bet Championship play-offs kick off on Thursday evening with a high-stakes clash between Bristol City and Sheffield United at Ashton Gate. Both teams will be hoping their star players will step up to the plate and produce a moment of magic.

This marks yet another chance for both clubs to finally break their play-off curse. Neither side has ever secured promotion via this route, with Bristol City embarking on their sixth attempt and Sheffield United enduring eight previous failures.

For the Blades, history paints a particularly grim picture. First-leg semi-finals have not been kind to them: they’ve only scored more than once in a first leg once (a 2-1 win over Sunderland in 1997/98), and have never won a first leg away from home in any of their previous campaigns. The burden of history looms large over Chris Wilder’s men.

For Bristol City, their route to the play-offs was anything but smooth. On the final day of the season, they clawed their way back from 2-0 down to draw against Preston North End, sneaking into the top six. But their recent form is a concern, just five points from their last five games, and a once-solid defence has crumbled under pressure, conceding nine goals in their last three matches. To add to their woes, a growing injury list has left Liam Manning’s squad stretched thin.

Blades Have Worst Play-off Record in England

The Blades, meanwhile, enter the play-offs with their own baggage. They hold the worst play-off record in English football; including relegation and promotion play-offs they’ve failed in nine previous campaigns.

The club hasn’t tasted Wembley success since their FA Cup triumph a century ago in 1925. But there’s a new sense of resolve within the squad, epitomised by forward Tyrese Campbell, who joined as a free agent last summer.

Tyrese Campbell ‘Ready’ to Make History With Sheffield United

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – MARCH 28: Tyrese Campbell of Sheffield United celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Coventry City FC at Bramall Lane on March 28, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

“We’re 100% ready to rewrite history,” Campbell told the BBC’s 72+ EFL podcast. “There’s been talk about the past, but we haven’t focused on that. We want to create our own story.”

Campbell, in his debut season with the club, has netted 10 goals in 33 appearances with many of them coming off the bench. The 25-year-old relishes the big stage:

“It’s my first experience in the play-offs but it doesn’t take much for me to get going for these big games, I enjoy the pressure and the occasion. Helping the team get to where we want to be is exciting and spurring the lads on. We all have the same ambition and intention and that’s to win the play-offs and that is what our full focus is on.”

Competition for places in Sheffield United’s attack is fierce, with Campbell sharing duties with Kieffer Moore, Tom Cannon, Rhian Brewster, and Ben Brereton Diaz. But far from causing friction, Campbell believes it drives the team forward.

“It pushes everyone on,” he said. “Nobody is guaranteed a spot, and that’s good for us. We all support each other. I’ve had to fight for my place and that’s helped me play some of the best football of my career.”