Eng. Championship
2025-05-08 - Bristol City vs Sheffield United
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter
Football : England: Championship - Play-off semi-final 1st leg
Venue: Ashton Gate
Thursday 8th May 2025, 2000hrs
Bristol City earned a point in a 2-2 draw at home with Preston NE on the final day of the Championship season which in turn not only ended two defeats on the trot but also secured a play-off spot for The Robins, having finished two points above 7th placed Blackburn Rovers.
Bristol City had previously stumbled to losses against Luton Town 3-1 and the title-holders Leeds United 4-0, both of which were away from home but manager Liam Manning will be hoping that his side can take advantage of being at Ashton Gate for this 1st leg tie with Sheffield United on Thursday night.
The wider picture shows Bristol City have suffered just one loss in their last 15 home games in the Championship which came in the form of a 1-0 defeat to Swansea City, but having also picked up 11 wins in the process, the west country hosts are expected to put up a determined fight.
Sheffield United had seemingly been on course to secure automatic promotion from the Championship as recently as the end of March as The Blades had just registered a 3-1 home win against Coventry City which had lifted Chris Wilder’s side to the top of the table with a three-point lead over Leeds United and five points above 3rd placed Burnley.
However, disaster then struck as the Yorkshire club managed to collect just a further two wins from the subsequent seven games with wins against Cardiff City and Stoke City, but four losses within these final seven games had done the damage.
A 2-1 loss away from home at Burnley was the final nail in Sheffield United’s promotion coffin but although The Blades have lost three of their last four away games, the visitors did register a 2-1 win at Ashton Gate against Bristol City back in early November.
The Betting Verdict
Indeed, Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last seven meetings against Bristol City, picking up five wins in the process.
The Pick :
Bristol City 0-1 Sheffield Utd
