Sheffield United vs Bristol City – Preview | OneFootball

Sheffield United are one more solid performance away from getting to the Championship play-off final, they carry a 3-0 lead into the second leg against Bristol City at Bramall Lane.

Looking at the First Leg

I stated in the first leg preview that the Blades should score at least one goal against a very leaky Robins defence, and they managed to get three down at Ashton Gate. Of course, the away side were slightly aided by Rob Dickie’s sending off just before half-time after bringing down Kieffer Moore in the box. Yet, United were still the side in control of proceedings when it was 11 vs 11 even without dominating the ball.

Coming into the first leg, we knew Bristol City were a very well-rounded team who were smart on the ball and good pressers. In order to counter that, I called for a 4-2-2-2 shape on Twitter, and Chris Wilder deployed a 4-2-2-2 style shape, known as a box midfield. Though, United’s version of it on Thursday night was definitely not square, with Rhian Brewster down the right and stretching the shape to make it almost asymmetrical. And it worked a treat.

Brewster ended the game with a 100% pass success rate along with three key passes and two big chances created. Plus, his defensive work rate was exceptional in the first half.

Another reason why this system worked perfectly was because they were going long early and often in order to bypass Bristol City’s excellent midfield and their press. And with Kieffer Moore and Tyrese Campbell up top, they found joy on almost every attack.

Statistically, the first leg was United’s second-best attacking game of the entire season, recording an expected goals of 2.6, and this is of course not counting Campbell’s largely controversial disallowed goal at 0-0.

Team News

The Blades have no injury concerns for the second leg, and with them being 3-0 up, they may not rush Femi Seriki back into action after his shoulder injury against Blackburn Rovers. Ben Brereton Diaz could make an appearance. Sydie Peck is one to keep an eye on because of his yellow card in the first leg; if he gets another booking on Monday night then he’ll miss the final.

The Robins will be without key midfielder Joe Williams after going off injured in the first half at Ashton Gate. Rob Dickie will miss the second leg after being shown a straight red card on Thursday, unless the FA decide to overturn the decision upon appeal.

Sheffield United’s Impact Player For This Game

(Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Chris Wilder’s men take a three-goal cushion to Bramall Lane on Monday evening, so it’s all down to Bristol City to push forward and engage from minute one. While Tyrese Campbell and Kieffer Moore had the biggest impact in the away leg, the damage has already been done. Therefore, the home leg is all about control.

In terms of neatness and controlling a game, I don’t think there is a better player in United’s squad than Tom Davies. The midfielder got 23 minutes off the bench at Ashton Gate and he simply looked a cut above everyone else in midfield. And, with Sydie Peck needing to avoid a yellow card in the second leg, it would be a wise decision to start Davies instead of Peck.

The way he constantly shows for the ball off defenders, picks up pockets of space in the middle and final third, and his ability to take the ball on the half-turn or drop a shoulder to spin away from danger, it’s so pleasing on the eye.

In his short appearance against Bristol City he managed a 95% passing accuracy (21 passes), 100% duel success rate, two key passes, and one big chance created.

The former Everton man will have a tough task up against the likes of Max Bird and Jason Knight, but I think with the Robins needing to commit bodies forward Davies can exploit an overstretched away side in the middle of the park.

Bristol City’s Impact Player For This Game

Bristol City need some magic to be pulled out of the hat at Bramall Lane, and a big chunk of luck. Liam Manning certainly isn’t short of players that can create something special. The trouble is, the Blades have a three-goal lead so they can set traps and hit them on the counter.

I’m looking at magicians like Anis Mehmeti to float around the number ten position and cause havoc. The Albanian international has netted 12 goals in the league this season despite playing as an attacking midfielder over on the left half of the field. He’s also got an eye for a sneaky probing pass around the edge of the box despite only having one assist.

If they are to play through the thirds with any real success, Mehmeti needs to have a big influence.

On the other hand, they could take a more direct approach and go with the battering ram that is Sinclair Armstrong up front. Now, technically, the 21-year-old isn’t as polished as Nahki Wells, but the Irishman has bags of pace and is physically strong.

In the regular season game at Ashton Gate, he won the penalty to make the Robins go 1-0 up. On his start at Bramall Lane, he only registered 20 touches and had two key passes and missed a big chance. But, his effectiveness was his work off the ball. He constantly ran the channels and dragged Rob Holding and Jack Robinson to run into corners.

I think Bristol City’s best path to victory is to go long into spaces for Armstrong to run into to ultimately stretch United’s defensive shape. And from there, the likes of Mehmeti will have lanes to ghost into, in and around the edge of the penalty area.

My Prediction

Many neutrals have brought up the fact that “Sheffield United only won 3-0 because of the red card”. Well, that may or may not be true. It was the Blades that forced the red card to happen, and even before that they were firmly in the driver’s seat and should’ve been 1-0 or 2-0 up before the penalty incident even came about.

The Robins are on borrowed time and they need a goal early in the first half to make doubt creep into the United players. I think the away side will find the net in this one, but Sheffield United can hit them on the break when they open up and win this one 2-1.

Stats taken from FBref.