Sheffield United’s hopes are surprisingly high for promotion via the playoffs this time around with Chris Wilder knowing his side’s fate with two games to go, after their defeat at Turf Moor against Burnley on Monday night. 

The Blades’ record in the playoffs doesn’t make for pleasant reading. Massing a total of 20 playoff games neither of which has ever secured them promotion via this route, but the fans remain hopeful it will be 9th time lucky as they go to the playoffs starting on 8 May.

• 1996/97: Division 1 Play-off Final lost to Crystal Palace.
• 1997/98: Division 1 Play-off Semi-Final lost to Sunderland.
• 2002/03: Division 1 Play-off Final lost to Wolves.
• 2008/09: Championship Play-off Final lost to Burnley.
• 2011/12: League One Play-off Final lost to Huddersfield Town on penalties.
• 2012/13: League One Semi-final lost to Yeovil Town.
• 2014/15: League One Semi-final lost to Swindon Town.
• 2021/22: Championship Semi-final lost to Nottingham Forest on penalties.

A football analyst said: “United will be hoping to break the curse of the playoffs.”

Chris Wilder’s side recovered from the defeat on Monday to beat Stoke 2-0 on Friday in their penultimate away game of the season, building momentum for their final game of the season as they host Blackburn Rovers at Bramall Lane. The Blades hope to end the season on a high as they head into the unknown that is the playoffs.

A United fan who runs the X account, AllThingsBlades, said: “Obviously, there is a lot of disappointment, but the away end against Stoke was fantastic, and the fans got behind the players, which could be the huge push we need to get over the line in the play-offs.”

Wilder rested midfielder Gus Hamer and forward Ben Brereton Diaz against Stoke on Friday night.

The Blades fan said that Hamer, who was named Sky Bet Champ Player of the Season last night, had the biggest impact this season.

“He can make something happen out of nothing, as he did with Coventry on the 22/23 season when they lost in the final.”

Ahead of the final game of the season against Blackburn Rovers, the superfan said: “We should play our strongest squad as the playoffs are only five days afterwards, so it will be key to have every player fit.”

United have won a competition-high 25 matches this season, and due to finish the season 3rd in the league, despite starting the season with a two-point deduction for defaulting on payments to other clubs during the 2022-23 season.

Chris Wilder has laid down the gauntlet for his players to finish the season with the highest points tally of a team that didn’t gain automatic promotion – a record that is currently held by bitter Yorkshire rivals, Leeds United.

AllThingsBlades said: “We should have a good sense of optimism going to the playoffs as we are likely going to end up on 92 points and are currently 23 points ahead of 6th place.”

“Most of the season I thought we would get promoted as we have been in the top two pretty much all season, but the win away at Wednesday (in March) made me really believe that it was our year.”

Burnley and Leeds were automatically promoted to the Premier League after securing enough points to go clear the blades condemning them to another playoff lottery. 

It is undetermined who The Blades will face in the playoffs with sixth place still up for grabs, with the likes of Coventry City, Millwall, Blackburn Rovers and Middlesborough still with a mathematical chance of securing the final playoff spot. 

The fan said: “Bristol or Millwall would be the toughest games for us in the playoffs as we have struggled to break both of them down but I think over two legs we would have enough to beat them both.”

The analyst said: “It takes unity, quality, desire, and a little bit of luck to win the playoffs.”

They said that even if Sheffield were to be promoted to the Premier League, they are not convinced United will be able to stay there.

“It is very tough to stay in the Premier League, especially now with revenue disparity increasing year on year and this has been reflected in the last two seasons with all three promoted sides being relegated in their first season.”