Sheffield United's next six fixtures compared with Championship rivals after play-offs blow
Sheffield United are eight points off the final play-off place with ten games of the Championship campaign remaining.
Sheffield United’s play-off aspirations took a hit following their 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon.
United, who had been beaten 2-0 by the Baggies in the reverse fixture at The Hawthorns in December, knew a victory over James Morrison’s side would move them to within six points of the play-off places with ten games remaining.
However, United produced an uninspiring display, meaning they were held to a draw, denying them the opportunity to move to within six points of sixth-placed Wrexham, who had a weekend off from Championship action due to their participation in the FA Cup fifth round.
It means the Blades are now eight points behind the Welsh outfit, who could increase their gap on Chris Wilder’s side to 11 points when they face Hull City on Tuesday evening. United are next in action on Wednesday evening, facing Norwich City at Carrow Road.
With the games beginning to run out and United’s play-off hopes now dangling by a thread, The Star has had a look at their next six fixtures in comparison to their immediate rivals:
Sheffield United - 11th (49pts)
- Norwich City (A) - March 11
- Birmingham City (A) - March 14
- Wrexham (H) - March 21
- Swansea City (H) - April 3
- Bristol City (A) - April 6
- Hull City (H) - April 11
Verdict: As Saturday’s stalemate with West Brom demonstrated, there is no such thing as an easy game in the Championship. Practically everyone expected the Blades to get the better of the Baggies amid their struggles towards the bottom of the table.
It means trying to predict where United will pick up points in their upcoming games is fairly pointless. The Championship is unforgiving and nothing can be taken for granted. United’s next bank of games, however, features some tough tests.
Four of their next six opponents, at the time of writing, currently sit in the top half of the table and United have struggled to take points off top half teams this season, amassing just ten. The game against Wrexham, depending on how events over the next week or so unfold, looks particularly important ahead of the international break.
Wrexham - 6th (57pts)
- Hull City (H) - March 10
- Swansea City (H) - March 13
- Watford (A) - March 17
- Sheffield United (A) - March 21
- West Bromwich Albion (A) - April 3
- Southampton (H) - April 6*
Derby County - 7th (54pts)
- Millwall (A) - March 10
- Portsmouth (A) - March 16
- Birmingham City (H) - March 21
- Coventry City (A) - April 3
- Stoke City (H) - April 6
- Southampton (A) - April 11
Southampton - 8th (53pts)
- West Bromwich Albion (A) - March 11
- Coventry City (A) - March 14
- Norwich City (H) - March 18
- Oxford United (H) - March 21
- Ipswich Town (H) - April 3*
- Wrexham (A) - April 6*
Watford - 9th (51pts)
- Sheffield Wednesday (A) - March 10
- Stoke City (A) - March 14
- Wrexham (H) - March 17
- Leicester City (H) - March 21
- QPR (A) - April 3
- Charlton Athletic (H) - April 6
MORE: Sheffield United must turn their biggest weakness into their biggest strength after West Brom blow
Bristol City - 10th (50pts)
- Leicester City (A) - March 10
- Middlesbrough (A) - March 14
- West Bromwich Albion (H) - March 21
- Charlton Athletic (A) - April 3
- Sheffield United (H) - April 6
- QPR (A) - April 11
Birmingham City - 12th (49pts)
- QPR (H) - March 11
- Sheffield United (H) - March 14
- Derby County (A) - March 21
- Blackburn Rovers (H) - April 3
- Ipswich Town (A) - April 6
- Wrexham (H) - April 11
Preston North End - 13th (49pts)
- Coventry City (A) - March 11
- Norwich City (A) - March 14
- Stoke City (H) - March 20
- Leicester City (A) - April 3
- QPR (H) - April 6
- Charlton Athletic (A) - April 11
Swansea City - 14th (49pts)
- Portsmouth (A) - March 10
- Wrexham (A) - March 13
- Coventry City (H) - March 21
- Sheffield United (A) - April 3
- Middlesbrough (H) - April 6
- Leicester City (A) - April 11
*Denotes fixtures will be rearranged due to Southampton’s progression to the FA Cup quarter-finals.
All fixtures are subject to change.