Sheffield United booked their place in the play-off final at Wembley later this month with a professional performance to dispatch Bristol City at Bramall Lane this evening. The Blades broke the back of the job last Thursday with a 3-0 win at Ashton Gate, with the same scoreline in the home leg booking a date with either Coventry City or Sunderland on May 24.
The Robins travelled north with a huge task on their hands and understandably made a strong start, but the Blades kept their heads and went ahead on the stroke of half-time when Kieffer Moore flicked home a Harrison Burrows corner. The lead was doubled in the second half via Gus Hamer’s deflected effort and at that stage, even the most pessimistic Blade could start to dream of Wembley.
Here’s how we rated the Blades’ players on a memorable evening at Bramall Lane...
5. Harrison Burrows - 8
Got lost a little under the flight of an early cross from the City left and it was to the relief of everyone of a United persuasion that McCrorie's header deflected off the United man rather than travel anywhere near Cooper's goal. Saw a well-struck effort on his weaker right foot deflected wide as the Blades looked to put the tie to bed, and then picked out Moore with a pin-point corner for the Blades to go ahead. Had a hand in the third, too, showing real ambition to get forward with the game long since won and gifting O'Hare the simplest of chances with an intelligent dummy Photo: Dan Istitene
6. Andre Brooks - 7
Given a rare chance from the start after another goalscoring cameo off the bench in the first leg and was United's most potent threat for my money, going inches away from the goal his ambition deserved when he just couldn't quite stretch enough to meet Hamer's cross. Yes, he lost the ball at times but he did so trying to risk it and his fearlessness could be a valuable proposition for the Blades at Wembley later this month | Sportimage
7. Vinícius Souza - 8
The Brazilian was at his battling best in midfield as he showed exactly why he has been such a key player for the Blades this season, so often using his anticipation skills to get a toe on the ball ahead of a City man and then using it simply when he won it back. At one stage later in the game he attempted a more ambitious pass, which was just out of the reach of O'Hare, and was absolutely raging with himself that it was slightly overhit. The Blades were 5-0 up at the time. Winning mentality. Photo: Cody Froggatt
8. Sydie Peck - 7
Had an up-and-down start to this game with a couple of uncharacteristic loose moments on the ball, and had boss Wilder screaming in frustration at one point when he turned back rather than risking the ball with a pass out to the right that the manager was seemingly crying out for. To his credit, though, he didn't hide and kept fronting up for the ball, looking to take a slight whack in the second half after a tackle. Went close again to that first United goal in the second half but his well-struck volleyed effort was just too high Photo: Steve Ellis Steve Ellis