Sheffield United picked up their sixth win in seven matches prior to the international break when they registered what could be a pivotal 1-0 win away at Yorkshire local rivals, Leeds United at Elland Road and this result lifted them into the top two and automatic promotion contention in the Championship.
The Blades return to Bramall Lane this Saturday where they’ll play host to Bristol City whose own play-off ambitions have recently imploded having failed to win any of their last five matches in the Championship, while Sheffield United’s momentum continues in impressive fashion.
Recent wins against Middlesbrough, Reading, West Brom, Rotherham United, Brentford and Leeds United include victories against three teams sitting in the top six of the Championship, while also collecting a total of 13 home wins out of their 19 played at Bramall Lane - which is the joint highest haul at home in the division along with leaders, Norwich City.
The hosts have won their last eight home matches on the bounce which is an excellent sequence of form but what’s also impressive is that The Blades have also collected a total of 10 clean sheets from their 19 home matches to date. At the other end, forwards Sharp (22 goals) and McGoldrick (12 goals) continue to terrorise opposition defences.
As recently as mid-February, Bristol City were sitting pretty in 5th place in the play-off pack in the Championship having just achieved a seventh league win on the trot following a 2-1 home win against QPR, but since then, the wheels have well and truly fallen off as The Robins have failed to win any of their last five matches.
Defeats to Norwich City, Birmingham City and Leeds United along with draws against Preston North End (1-1) and Ipswich Town (1-1) mean that the visitors have gained just two points from the last possible 15 on offer, and this has seen the west country club drop out of the top six as a result.
Bristol City have dropped down to 9th place in the league table and although they’re still just two points adrift of 6th placed Aston Villa, the confidence levels have also dropped and having lost at Norwich City and drawn at Preston North End in their recent away matches, getting anything out of Sheffield United at Bramall Lane looks beyond them.
Sheffield United to collect a ninth home win on the trot here.