Sheffield United vs Bristol City – Preview | OneFootball

The Championship is back this weekend and two sides that faced each other in the play-off semi-finals last season meet at Bramall Lane as Sheffield United host Bristol City.

Both clubs have new managers to begin the 2025/26 campaign after the Blades parted ways with Chris Wilder despite a third place finish, and replacing him with Ruben Selles. Meanwhile, Liam Manning left the Robins to join Norwich City which resulted in Gerhard Struber being appointed as the new gaffer at Ashton Gate.

Selles and Struber are both largely unproven managers at Championship level, however, both men have something in common. They both took charge of a team at the foot of the second tier and guided them to safety before eventually leaving after the season concluded.

Transfer Business

In terms of transfer incomings, Bristol City haven’t really made that many signings as of writing. Emil Riis Jacobsen has joined on a free from Preston North End, and while he’s a steady striker at this level, he doesn’t really get the juices flowing, having scored ten or more goals twice in four and a bit seasons at Preston.

Another signing for the Robins is Adam Randell from Plymouth Argyle. Again, a steady player at Championship level, he will do the job as a number six or as a number eight.

They have suffered a few outgoings, but nothing too major. Experienced players like Nahki Wells and Kal Naismith have both joined Luton Town on a free transfer, while versatile midfielder Taylor Gardner-Hickman has joined Birmingham City.

Struber will be glad to still have the likes of Max Bird, Jason Knight and Anis Mehmeti at the club, but that may yet change in a few weeks time.

Team News

Selles enters his first competitive game as Blades boss probably shorter at the back than he would’ve liked after Anel Ahmedhodzic penned a move to Feyenoord in mid-week. This now leaves just Jack Robinson and Tyler Bindon as the club’s only senior centre-backs.

Club captain Robinson did have a minor injury in pre-season, and if this issue persists then it will likely mean United will have to deploy Rhys Norrington-Davies at left centre-back alongside Bindon.

Bristol City’s new boss has confirmed that midfield duo Joe Williams and Max Bird will not feature at Bramall Lane on Saturday, with the season opener coming too soon for both.

Sheffield United’s Impact Player For This Game

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – MAY 3: Gustavo Hamer of Sheffield United misses a chance to score during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Blackburn Rovers FC at Bramall Lane on May 3, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

Sheffield United have looked good in pre-season with their strong pressing under Selles, and this has resulted in plenty of goals being scored and chances being created from mid-high turnovers.

One player that should thrive in a system like this, especially with the addition of a more natural defensive midfielder Djibril Soumare, is Gustavo Hamer. Soumare may need to get some fitness and sharpness in his legs, but I do expect him to play some part in the game. But, potentially having Soumare and Sydie Peck in midfield should free up Hamer to advance into a high eight/number ten type of role.

Last season, the Dutchman finished the campaign with nine goals and seven assists in 41 Championship appearances. Despite this, many supporters felt that they weren’t getting the best out of him overall due to him initially starting out on the left and then inverting.

Under Selles in pre-season, Hamer has been a lot more central where he can show off his passing range and vision in more of a 360 degrees capacity. We’ve seen him play some excellent through balls and over the top passes to either wing, and it’s this sort of thing that Selles wants from his team; get the ball forward quickly but with precision.

Bristol City’s Impact Player For This Game

PRESTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 05: Emil Riis Jakobsen of Preston North End looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End FC and Stoke City FC at Deepdale on April 05, 2025 in Preston, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)

The Robins have kept their formation from last term under Manning, they are a very fluid 3-4-3 type of system. But, they are attempting to play a high pressing game, similar to United’s new style of play, and counterattacking football.

The new element of a focal point up front in Riis Jacobsen is probably what the difference was in the play-off semi-final tie just a few months ago; the Blades had Kieffer Moore to aim for, whereas City really didn’t have that type of target.

Now though, they do. And if it is a centre-back partnership of Bindon and Norrington-Davies for United, the Dane will be licking his lips at that lineup. While he isn’t a standout in the air, he possesses great strength, length and mobility, which makes him a real handful because of his willingness to pin a defender as well as spinning into the channels.

My Prediction

Sheffield United dominated Bristol City just a few months ago, running out 6-0 winners on aggregate in the Championship play-off semi-finals. But this time, things are expected to be far more competitive, especially given it’s the first game of the season.

Plenty has changed at both clubs over the summer. Neither Gerhard Struber nor his opposite number will be entirely settled on their strongest XI, and that uncertainty adds an element of unpredictability to the opening day, and that goes for the entire division.

Bristol City have shown signs of promise, particularly in their 4-0 demolition of Real Valladolid in their final friendly, with new signing Emil Riis Jacobsen looking like a potential difference-maker up front.

However, United still appear to have more depth and quality across the pitch. Playing at home, with the crowd behind them, the Blades should have just enough to get the job done.

I’m going for a 2-1 Blades win in front of a packed out Bramall Lane to kick the Selles era off.