Sheffield United vs Sunderland LIVE: Place in Premier League on the line at Wembley | OneFootball

The third promoted club will be decided at Wembley (Action Images via Reuters)

Sheffield United and Sunderland will vie for a place in the Premier League as the pair clash in the Championship play-off final.

Always a game of such consequence, the top flight is within reach for two proud clubs after setting up a trip to Wembley. Sheffield United pushed Leeds and Burnley close for long periods during the course of the campaign before fading into third, though showed their class in a semi-final thrashing of Bristol City. Sunderland, conversely, made the most dramatic of passages through to this encounter, Dan Ballard’s header breaking Coventry hearts in the last minute of extra time.

Perhaps it was a sign that the Black Cats’ luck has turned after several seasons of toil since dropping out of the Premier League in 2017. Can Regis Le Bris lead them back to where Sunderland fans feel they belong, or will Chris Wilder earn a third promotion with Sheffield United to again prove his managerial quality?

Blades boss hopes George Baldock is remembered ‘in an incredibly positive way’

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder wants to win promotion to the Premier League for the memory of former player George Baldock.

The right-back, who played 219 times in seven years for the Blades before being released at the end of last season, tragically died in October, aged 31.

“Every club has got their own stories,” Wilder said. “This is a story that’s not fabricated, it’s not false.

“This is somebody that was an incredibly popular player for the football club, who some of the players that are still with us played with and lived nine or 10 months of their lives with.

“These are all things that have happened to us, and I think the club and the players have handled it incredibly well and gone about it the right way. Remembering George, which is really important.

“It won’t be the be-all and end-all. It won’t be anybody’s fault if we don’t get the result we want and it won’t be the reason if we do get the result we want. But it’s just part of life. Unfortunately people lose their lives.

“There are sad stories to go with happy stories, but hopefully we can remember George, which we have done so far this season, in an incredibly positive way on Saturday afternoon.

“You’d have to ask the players what motivation it gives them. They’ll have their own motivation. But he’s with us. We’re proud of his contributions to our football club and incredibly sad he’s not with us.”

Blades boss hopes George Baldock is remembered ‘in an incredibly positive way’

Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United play Sunderland for a place in the Premier League at Wembley on Saturday.

Will Castle24 May 2025 13:30

Sunderland take over Trafalgar Square

Will Castle24 May 2025 13:08

Footballer suffered heart attack before scoring match winner to send team into play-offs

Today’s special kick-off time is made all the more pertinent by the fact AFC Wimbledon midfielder Sam Hutchinson unknowingly suffered heart attack just six minutes into the Dons’ League Two play-off semi-final victory last week.

He went on to play the full 90 minutes and ended up scoring the winning goal to book his side’s place at Wembley.

The 35-year-old veteran, whose career began at Chelsea, helped secure his team's play-off position with a 1-0 victory against Grimsby Town on May 2nd. Hutchinson's 53rd-minute goal proved decisive, but his post-match celebration was short-lived.

During the journey home from Blundell Park, Hutchinson's condition deteriorated, revealing the seriousness of his earlier discomfort. Subsequent medical examination confirmed he had suffered a heart attack during the match.

Footballer suffered heart attack before scoring match winner

He hopes to watch the League Two play-off final at Wembley

Will Castle24 May 2025 13:00