Why can't Sheffield United win a play-off final?
What have Sheffield United got to do to win promotion via the play-offs?The 2-1 loss to Sunderland at Wembley means it is now 10 times the Blades have tried and failed to go up via the play-offs and the fifth defeat they've suffered in a final.When Sunderland captain Luke O'Nien dislocated his shoulder inside the opening 120 seconds and Tyrese Campbell coolly clipped over Anthony Patterson 23 minutes later, the Blades must have thought their fortunes were finally turning.And then.Pretty much everything that could go wrong for Chris Wilder's side in north-west London did so. The footballing gods conspired against them once again.Harrison Burrows arrowed the Blades into a two-goal lead 10 minutes before the interval, only for VAR to intervene for the one and only time in the Championship this season to chalk the goal off for offside against Vinicius Souza who was blocking Patterson's line of sight.Substitute Andre Brooks pickpocketed Dennis Cirkin and had the chance to double United's lead somewhat against the run of play in the second half with 20 minutes remaining, only to be denied by the studs on the end of Patterson's left boot.It would perhaps prove to be the turning point and catalyst for a succession of events that slowly but surely saw this play-off final slip away from the Blades.Championship player of the year Gustavo Hamer, who brilliantly set up the opener, was forced off with an ankle injury to be replaced by Ben Brereton Diaz, who himself limped off in the final minute.With extra time looming, Anel Ahmedhodzic clashed heads with his own team-mate Tom Cannon, suffering an injury and United's third of the game which meant he could not continue.Sheffield United were down to 10 men for the closing stages and before they'd even had a chance to make their sixth change courtesy of concussion sub protocol, Brighton-bound Tommy Watson - whose name wasn't even on the matchday programme - curled into the bottom corner to seal victory for Sunderland.
'It's not luck' - Wilder
Wilder could be forgiven for bemoaning his side's bad luck in the final, this season in general and United's never-ending play-off curse, but he says they should have still seen the job through."It's not luck, it was in our hands," he said in his post-match press conference."The game was in our hands and we never felt in danger. Michael [Cooper] has not had a save to make."From a stats point of view, we were on top but we have to kill games off and have that quality. The opposition have taken their chances and punished us severely."We had an opportunity to change the narrative on the play-offs but we've not done that."Debate about the decision by VAR to overturn Burrows' goal which would have made it 2-0 to United will likely rumble on well into the summer and Wilder says it gave Sunderland "a lifeline and energy"."There will be a lot of talk about VAR," Wilder said. "We've played 46 games, two play-off games and all of a sudden it's a subjective decision."I don't think the goalkeeper [Patterson] saves it, I don't think he gets anywhere near it."
Blades season doomed from the start?
It was perhaps a season that was almost doomed before it had even started for Sheffield United after they were deducted two points for defaulted transfer payments.Despite the early setback, the Blades still amassed 90 points.However, they finished outside the automatic promotion spots only to two sides who both hit the 100-point mark - something that has never happened before in Championship history.Their points tally would have seen them promoted in 14 of the previous 20 seasons in the second tier and had they not been deducted two points, 92 would have been enough in 17 of those campaigns.Meanwhile, only Leeds United (29) won more games than Sheffield United (28) in the regular season.They may have finished 14 points ahead of Sunderland three weeks ago but the long grind of this season ultimately counted for nothing in the end."It's going to take quite a while to get over this and we're going to have to suffer and go through the pain again," Wilder said."The players will be hurting. We have to own it and suffer together. Most of all I'm disappointed for the supporters."Not to reward them with a win and the opportunity to play in the Premier League hurts a lot."In many ways, today's heartbreak mirrored the regular season with 75% of it going to plan but ending in catastrophic fashion.Three straight defeats by Oxford United, Millwall and Plymouth during the run-in saw United give up a five-point lead to fall to third, which was only further compounded when Burnley secured promotion with a 2-1 win over the Blades at Turf Moor on 21 April.Wilder also said to lose in the manner they did with an injury time goal in the final "really stings"."They find a fabulous winner and it's chaos and pandemonium from their point of view," he added"It's an incredibly bitter and disappointing situation we found ourselves in. The amount of games I've played and managed, it's not always been a fairytale."But it has been very much a fairytale for Sunderland, who have been down to League One and back up again, and will return to the top flight for the first time in eight years.On this occasion at Wembley, maybe it was the Black Cats who had all the luck.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Irish League odyssey for European football groundhoppers
Groundhopping is proving a popular attraction for Irish League football clubs, with more people travelling from outside the UK to visit involves attending football matches at as many different grounds as enthusiasts from the Netherlands and Germany are among those visiting Northern Ireland as football tourism extends to these Christmas, Dutch football groundhopper Mathijs Kros celebrated the festive season in Belfast, with four Irish League games in a row, including the Steel and Sons Cup Final on 25 December. He is a big fan of Irish League football."I like the banter in the stands and the fact that there is a real connection between the players and the fans if you go to a game," he said. 'The grounds have a soul' "The previous year, I was looking at my boring Christmas dinner in the Netherlands and thinking: 'Next year I will be in Belfast'," he added."This season, I was able to go to the Steel and Sons Cup Final on Christmas Day, the north Belfast derby between Crusaders and Cliftonville on Boxing Day, the east Belfast derby between Dundela and Harland and Wolff Welders on 27 December and a game involving Portstewart and Knockbreda Parish on 28 December."I had all my Christmases at once."Mr Kros has supported Cliftonville FC in the Irish Premiership since 2013 and makes the trip to Northern Ireland four times a season to attend games. Wouter Schollema, also from the Netherlands, has visited various stadia in Northern Ireland for more than a decade and is the author of a book about the history of football in Belfast."What I like most about the Irish league is that it is still the pure football, the grounds have a soul and stories attached to them," he said. "The Premier League in England is expensive and it is plastic fantastic."He has taken in a game in each of his 25 visits to Belfast."I went to Loughgall last year for their game against Crusaders, as it was the smallest settlement in Europe to have a top-flight club - it was a brilliant experience."He also visited Belfast last year with 20 people and visited a number of grounds. From Bologna to the Brandywell Groundhopper Ross Lee, from Paisley in Scotland, has visited more than 700 stadia in 26 countries, with his partner Nicola Stevenson visiting more than Lee said this had included trips to grounds in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Friday, the couple will be at the Brandywell in Londonderry to take in Derry City's League of Ireland Premier Division fixture against Galway United, fresh from a trip to Bologna FC in Italy's Serie A, last month."In the Irish League, I have been at Glentoran's ground, The Oval, which is a mecca for groundhoppers, as well as Linfield, Harland and Wolff Welders, Coleraine and Portstewart," he said."I have also been at the grounds of Bohemians and Sligo Rovers in the League of believes the two leagues are "more authentic" than the likes of the Premier League in England and the Bundesliga in Germany."You get more craic and the grounds are more interesting."Mr Lee said trips were also about exploring the history and culture of a place. This is also highlighted by Chris Lee, the English author of a new book, Shades of Green, which saw him groundhopping across the island of Ireland while charting its "rich football history"."I love [Glentoran's ground], the Oval, that's my favourite stadium in Europe," he said."It's a time capsule, so unique."Cliftonville's Solitude ground is special too, with that old stand. "It's the oldest football ground on the island of Ireland and where the first international penalty was taken – and missed." Berlin to Belfast John Moore takes supporters on tours of Glentoran's stadium, the Oval, and said that hardly a week passes when there is not a group of groundhoppers from Europe visiting."They are mostly Dutch, Belgians, Germans and French," he Moore said there had been an upsurge of groundhoppers at the Oval in recent years."With the international football break, the Irish League still goes on, and people can take in a couple of games," he said relatively cheap flights from some European cities to Dublin and Belfast helped. Sam North of Footy Adventures visits stadia across the UK and Europe, documenting it all on social has made six visits to Northern Ireland since June North said his content relating to the Irish League had garnered millions of views from all over the world."I absolutely love it. I think the one drawback of doing it in other parts of the UK would be that the countries are so big, but within Northern Ireland, it is all so close," he added."The passion is so good and the local fan base is incredible."Mr North said that as well as groundhoppers being attracted by the "old school" feel of some stadia in Northern Ireland, the physical element of some play was also "a throwback to how football used to be". Fund for improvements More than 40 football clubs in Northern Ireland can now apply for money from a £36.2m fund which was initially announced 14 years aim of the Northern Ireland Football Fund is to improve sporting facilities for players and supporters. An estimated £200m is needed to bring facilities in Northern Ireland up to the required North welcomes the funding for stadia, but he said it was important that the character of grounds in Northern Ireland is retained in any refurbishment."I just hope they can keep the history of the grounds as they are right now, but maybe give them a few modern touches."
Powys County Times
39 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Monday's briefing: Ronaldo wins Nations League as Spalletti leaves Italy
Cristiano Ronaldo scored in normal time as Portugal went on to beat Spain on penalties and win the Nations League. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti announced his own sacking during a press conference in the wake of the country's humbling 3-0 defeat against Norway. Former Premier League referee Uriah Rennie died at the age of 65, while Jobe Bellingham looks set to walk in older brother Jude's footsteps after Borussia Dortmund agreed a fee with Sunderland for his services. One more for Ronaldo Skipper Cristiano Ronaldo made it 2-2 in the 61st minute but had to leave the field through injury before the end of normal time. Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring at Allianz Arena, with Paris St Germain left-back Nuno Mendes getting Portugal back on level terms, before Mikel Oyarzabal put Spain in front once again. Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes all slotted home their spot-kicks in the shootout, and after Alvaro Morata's nonchalant effort was stopped by goalkeeper Diogo Costa, Joao Neves' effort secured Portugal a second Nations League title following their win in 2019. Not so lucky Luciano? Luciano Spalletti, who took over as Italy coach in September 2023, revealed in a press conference that Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina had informed him of his departure following their heavy World Cup qualifying loss to Norway. First-half goals from Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland dealt a blow to the Italians' hopes of participating at their first World Cup since 2014. 'Last night we were very together with president Gravina. He told me that I will be relieved of my position as coach of the national team,' Spalletti said ahead of Monday's clash with Moldova. 'I had no intention of giving up. I would have preferred to stay in my place and continue doing my job. I'll be there tomorrow evening against Moldova, then we'll resolve the contract.' A Bellingham back in yellow and black? Jude Bellingham's younger brother Jobe is on the verge of joining Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund. The 19-year-old, who has been named in Lee Carsley's England Under-21 squad for this summer's Euros in Slovakia, could yet be in contention for Dortmund in the Club World Cup in the United States should the deal be completed before June 10. Trailblazer Uriah Rennie dies aged 65 Uriah Rennie, the Premier League's first Black referee, has sadly died aged 65. A trailblazer who broke down barriers, faced down football's fiercest competitors and took no nonsense. Went on to ref 175 PL games, after floodlight failure forced him to abandon his first. RIP 🖤 — Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 8, 2025 Uriah Rennie, the first black referee in the Premier League, took charge of over 300 games across an 11-year career between 1997 and 2008, with 175 of those matches in England's top flight. Jamaican-born Rennie, who had been suffering from a neurological condition, oversaw Derby's clash with Wimbledon in 1997 as his first match. 'We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former chair and trailblazing referee, Uriah Rennie,' said a Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association statement. 'Uriah made history as the Premier League's first black referee, officiating over 300 top-flight matches between 1997 and 2008. He broke down barriers, shaped our football community and inspired generations to come.' What's on today?
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Monday's briefing: Ronaldo wins Nations League as Spalletti leaves Italy
Italy manager Luciano Spalletti announced his own sacking during a press conference in the wake of the country's humbling 3-0 defeat against Norway. Former Premier League referee Uriah Rennie died at the age of 65, while Jobe Bellingham looks set to walk in older brother Jude's footsteps after Borussia Dortmund agreed a fee with Sunderland for his services. Skipper Cristiano Ronaldo made it 2-2 in the 61st minute but had to leave the field through injury before the end of normal time. Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring at Allianz Arena, with Paris St Germain left-back Nuno Mendes getting Portugal back on level terms, before Mikel Oyarzabal put Spain in front once again. Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes all slotted home their spot-kicks in the shootout, and after Alvaro Morata's nonchalant effort was stopped by goalkeeper Diogo Costa, Joao Neves' effort secured Portugal a second Nations League title following their win in 2019. Luciano Spalletti, who took over as Italy coach in September 2023, revealed in a press conference that Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina had informed him of his departure following their heavy World Cup qualifying loss to Norway. First-half goals from Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland dealt a blow to the Italians' hopes of participating at their first World Cup since 2014. 'Last night we were very together with president Gravina. He told me that I will be relieved of my position as coach of the national team,' Spalletti said ahead of Monday's clash with Moldova. 'I had no intention of giving up. I would have preferred to stay in my place and continue doing my job. I'll be there tomorrow evening against Moldova, then we'll resolve the contract.' Jude Bellingham's younger brother Jobe is on the verge of joining Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund. The 19-year-old, who has been named in Lee Carsley's England Under-21 squad for this summer's Euros in Slovakia, could yet be in contention for Dortmund in the Club World Cup in the United States should the deal be completed before June 10. Uriah Rennie, the Premier League's first Black referee, has sadly died aged 65. A trailblazer who broke down barriers, faced down football's fiercest competitors and took no nonsense. Went on to ref 175 PL games, after floodlight failure forced him to abandon his first. RIP 🖤 — Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 8, 2025 Uriah Rennie, the first black referee in the Premier League, took charge of over 300 games across an 11-year career between 1997 and 2008, with 175 of those matches in England's top flight. Jamaican-born Rennie, who had been suffering from a neurological condition, oversaw Derby's clash with Wimbledon in 1997 as his first match. 'We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former chair and trailblazing referee, Uriah Rennie,' said a Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association statement. 'Uriah made history as the Premier League's first black referee, officiating over 300 top-flight matches between 1997 and 2008. He broke down barriers, shaped our football community and inspired generations to come.' Italy host Moldova in what is expected to be Spalletti's final match as Azzurri coach. Belgium host Wales in Group J and Croatia welcome Czech Republic.
