This city has played host to the greatest playoff comeback of them all but unfortunately forBristol City, in the end, there was never really much chance of something similar to what Sheffield Wednesday achieved two years ago.
In 2023, Peterborough United headed to Sheffield with a four-goal cushion but somehow failed to make it to Wembley. Here, the three-goal leadSheffield Unitedbuilt up in the first leg never really felt threatened at any stage – and it will be the Blades who head to Wembley next weekend, not Bristol City.
History was on the side of Chris Wilder and his men here. While Wednesday produced that miraculous comeback two years ago in League One, noChampionshipside have ever overturned a three-goal margin in the playoffs. In truth, it was not difficult to see why these sides were separated by more than 20 points across 46 games.
Failure to secure automatic promotion was a bitter blow for Wilder and his side after accruing 90 points. No side have failed to secure promotion with that big a points-per-game tally since Hull City in 1910. But there was perhaps one crumb of comfort from Leeds and Burnley sealing United’s fate with games to spare.
Missing out on the final day would have left the Blades with no time to regather themselves. In the end, they had three weeks to get ready. They have never won promotion through the playoffs in nine attempts but after racking up the biggest winning margin ever seen in the playoffs, they will be heavy favourites at Wembley no matter who they face.
The onus was on the visitors to start on the front foot in their bid to create playoff history, and they did exactly that. The tone was set within two minutes when Scott Twine worked space in the area and although he scuffed his shot wide, it was an early warning sign of the pressure that was to come.
For most of the opening half hour it was Bristol City who were much the stronger of the two sides. United, set up in a 4-4-2 aimed at stifling the opposition, were getting overrun in midfield in the early stages and the visitors did a good job of causing problems, as well as quietening the early noise inside Bramall Lane.
But you felt Bristol City needed a goal early on to make the tie intriguing – and despite their best attempts, it simply didn’t arrive. George Earthy shot straight at Michael Cooper, as did Nahki Wells, and as the half wore on, the hosts began to settle into the second leg.
Wilder’s side grew into the task and as they began to ask questions of a Bristol City side pushing for goals, openings started to arrive. Hamer’s wonderful cross narrowly missed the head of Andre Brooks before Harrison Burrows lashed a shot wide.
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But four minutes before the break, the goal that had looked increasingly likely finally arrived. Hamer’s corner was met by the head of Kieffer Moore and while there was some doubt over whether it took a deflection on its way in, there was now no doubt the tie had just gone a long way to being settled.
And if there were any lingering doubts, they were firmly extinguished seven minutes after half-time. From a wonderful corner routine Hamer had clear space for a shot from the edge of the area and the ball deflected off wildy Ross McCrorie and into the back of the net to make it 5-0 on aggregate. In that moment, you felt the tension dissipate once and for all inside Bramall Lane.
There were further chances too, but it didn’t really matter by this point. That goal allowed Wilder to rotate and introduce his bench into proceedings, undoubtedly with Wembley in mind as first Moore and then Hamer, United’s prize asset, were taken out of the line of fire.
One of those substitutes then rubbed salt in the wounds with seven minutes remaining, as Callum O’Hare slotted home to emphasise the gulf between these sides. The Robins can take pride from making the playoffs this season but Wembley ultimately proved one step too far. For Sheffield United, it is the last and most important step left to take.