Sheffield United have one foot in the Championship play-off final as they eye a potential return to the Premier League, but nothing is for certain when it comes to the play-offs.
Chris Wilder's Blades take on Bristol City in the second leg of their semi-final on Monday night, with a healthy 3-0 advantage from the first meeting, and the bookies can't see beyond them booking a spot at Wembley for the richest game in English football.
More than likely, they will face the winner of the second semi-final between Sunderland and Coventry City in the showpiece on May 24, but they need look no further than their neighbours for a warning on taking things one step at a time.
Two years ago, Sheffield Wednesday completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in play-off history when they went into the second leg of their League One semi-final against Peterborough 4-0 down before winning the return fixture 5-1 and progressing to the final on penalties.
The Owls completed the job in the showpiece, beating Barnsley 1-0 in extra time to earn promotion to the Championship.
Can Bristol City take inspiration from the blue side of Sheffield as they prepare for a do-or-die trip to Bramall Lane on Monday? The Sporting News has all the latest betting, tips and predictions.
Sheffield United vs. Bristol City odds, betting tips and predictions for Championship play-off semi-final second leg
- TSN Pick: Sheffield United half-time/full-time (21/10, AK Bets)
- Score prediction: 2-1 (15/2, Spreadex)
The bookies have Sheffield United as the strong favourites to win on the night, with a best-priced 10/11 (AK Bets) on them coming through in 90 minutes, while you can get 3/1 (betway) on Bristol City.
Based on that, the odds of the Blades winning the tie overall are not even worth considering, but there is still some value to be had when it comes to potential Bet Builder markets.
The first leg was settled when a penalty from Harrison Burrows on the stroke of half-time was followed by goals from Andre Brooks (73) and Callum O'Hare (79).
City will need to come out all guns blazing to try to get back into the tie, and so you can expect them to leave gaps at the back early on. Given that, it's not unrealistic to think that United can once again win both halves. They are available at 21/10 (AK Bets) to complete the half-time/full-time double.
It's also worth noting that more goals have been scored in the second half of nine of the last 10 meetings between these two sides, so backing the second half to be the one with most goals (23/20, Spreadex) makes a lot of sense.
If you fancy taking on the goal-scorer markets, Tyrese Campbell has 10 Championship goals already this season for the Blades and is 11/2 with Spreadex to net the first here.
Sheffield United vs. Bristol City predicted results, odds
| Result | Odds* (via betway) |
|---|---|
| Sheff Utd 1-0 | 11/2 |
| 1-1 Draw | 6/1 |
| Sheff Utd 2-0 | 7/1 |
| Sheff Utd 2-1 | 15/2 |
| 0-0 Draw | 8/1 |
| Bristol City 1-0 | 9/1 |
| Bristol City 2-1 | 12/1 |
| Sheff Utd 3-1 | 12/1 |
* Odds correct at time of publishing
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Sheffield United vs. Bristol City match facts
- Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
- Kickoff Time: 8:00 p.m. BST
- Location: Bramall Lane
- Referee: Peter Bankes
- Last meeting: Bristol City 0-3 Sheffield United (Championship play-off semi-final first leg, May 8, 2025)
Where to watch Sheffield United vs. Bristol City live stream, TV channel, start time
- Kick-off time: 8:00 p.m. BST
- TV: Sky Sports
- Stream: Now TV, Sky Go