Sheffield United sent clear warning ahead of Bristol City play-off clash | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit has been discussing the Blades' upcoming play-off semi-final clash with Bristol City.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Bristol City and Sheffield United will get the 2024/25 EFL play-offs started under the Ashton Gate lights on Thursday night.

It's a clash that sees two contrasting emotions in both corners regarding being in the play-offs in the first place.

For Bristol City, their sixth-placed finish this term marks the club's first top six appearance in the Championship since their promotion to the second tier back in 2015.

Meanwhile, automatic promotion was always the expectation for Chris Wilder's Sheffield United side, and so to ultimately fall 10 points short of that target has meant there has been little cause for celebration over their third-place finish this year.

"Full respect" - Prediction made on Sheffield United's chances v Bristol City

We asked our Sheffield United fan pundit, Jimmy (aka Blades Ramble): 'Honest thoughts - do you think Sheffield United will get past Bristol City over two legs?'

Jimmy said: "Look, full respect to Bristol City and everybody in the play-offs.

"Every team, us included, have got players that can be game-changers, that can be match-winners; I am confident that we can get to the final.

"But, that doesn't mean that it's going to be easy. That doesn't mean we're looking past Bristol City, because we're not. You can't.

"We've had two very tight games with Bristol City this season. We won at Ashton Gate with a last-minute winner, some may say undeserved last-minute winner. It could easily have finished a draw that day.

"Then arguably, Bristol City were the better side when they came to Bramall Lane and only got a point. So, very tight games previously this season.

"Liam Manning's done a fantastic job to get them to where they are, on the limited budget that they do have compared to other sides around them, beating out clubs like Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Millwall.

"They've done a fantastic job to get into the play-offs. So, it's going to be a really tough tie, but if we play to our maximum against anybody in this play-off race, the table says that we should win.

"So, it's just what sort of Sheffield United side turns up on the day."

The pressure is on Sheffield United to taste play-off glory - that can work in Bristol City's favour

By virtue of finishing third, the expectation and pressure on Sheffield United to not only beat Bristol City, but to win the play-offs entirely, is naturally greater than on any of the other three sides.

Having been newly relegated from the Premier League, and having built a talented team full of players with Championship and Premier League experience, finishing as the lowest-placed side out of their two fellow top flight relegated rivals in Leeds and Burnley wasn't on the agenda for Blades this season.

As such, Bristol City may well see Sheffield United as somewhat of a wounded animal, and with no Robins fan likely to hold any grudge against their team should they see their side fall to Wilder's side over the two legs, Manning's men can truly approach this tie with a no pressure mentality.

Those types of teams can be highly dangerous opponents to face, especially given that the first leg will be played in front of a raucous Ashton Gate crowd; there will be no hiding place for the Blades on Thursday night that's for sure.

Therefore, Jimmy is right to forewarn his Sheffield United players of the dangers of looking past Bristol City, as make no mistake, the Robins aren't here to simply make up the numbers, they'll fancy their chances in the play-offs as much as anyone.