Bristol City vs Sheffield United

Bristol City and Sheffield United face off in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final at Ashton Gate on Thursday, each aiming to edge closer to Premier League promotion.

The Robins have reached this stage for the first time in 17 years, while the Blades are chasing a second promotion in three seasons.

After years of lingering in the Championship’s mid-table, Bristol City have clinched a coveted playoff spot, putting the West Country side just three games away from the Premier League’s prestige and rewards.

However, the Robins head into the first leg in shaky form, winless in their final three regular-season matches. Their latest outing last Saturday saw them draw with relegation-battling Preston North End. Despite trailing by two goals from Emil Riis Jakobsen and Milutin Osmajic, a stunning brace from Scottish wing-back Ross McCrorie secured a point for the hosts.

Though they earned only one point from their last three games, Liam Manning’s squad held onto sixth place in the Championship table, finishing two points ahead of seventh-placed Blackburn Rovers and eighth-placed Millwall to confirm their playoff berth.

Returning to their West Country home less than a week after the Preston draw, Bristol City will aim to stretch their unbeaten streak at Ashton Gate to nine games, having last lost there to Swansea City on February 9.

Sheffield United, despite finishing an impressive 22 points ahead of their Thursday hosts, enter the semi-final on equal terms with Bristol City. Manager Chris Wilder has stressed that his team must outshine the other playoff contenders to secure a Premier League return.

The Blades faltered toward the season’s end, managing just two victories in their final seven matches, which dashed their hopes of challenging Leeds United and Burnley for automatic promotion. Their most recent setback came last Saturday, when Blackburn Rovers claimed a draw at Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United finished the season as a clear third in the Championship standings, 10 points behind Leeds and Burnley, and with a 14-point lead over fourth-place Sunderland, who play Coventry City in the other semi-final, after inconsistency marred their push for immediate promotion.

The Blades would already be on vacation and getting ready for life among England's football elite if the division were determined just on away performance. This season, the Yorkshire team has amassed 43 points on the road, a record that can only be surpassed by Burnley (49), led by Scott Parker.

Even though promising January arrivals like Tom Cannon and Ben Brereton Diaz haven't completely ignited the world, Sheffield United is still a formidable force at the top of the field.