Sheffield United eased past Bristol City once more at Bramall Lane to reach the Championship playoff final in emphatic style.
Over two legs, the Blades would run out as comprehensive 6-0 victors, with the Robins actually showing some fight in the early stages in South Yorkshire during the second leg, only for Chris Wilder’s hosts to eventually show off their superiority again to clinch a second successive 3-0 win.
Now, Wilder’s side are only one match away from an instant return to the dizzy heights of the Premier League, with the United display overall just oozing class from several standout performers.
Sheffield United's key performers in the second leg
The Blades did have a three-goal cushion to fall back on heading into the late-night clash at Bramall Lane, but that didn’t culminate in the home side resting on their laurels to try and edge out a result.
Instead, the likes of Kieffer Moore and Gustavo Hamer looked dangerous throughout in the attacking areas, with the pair up top sharing out the first two goals courtesy of two assists from a rampaging Harrison Burrows.
The ex-Coventry City man’s effort was helped into the net by a fortuitous deflection, but neither he nor a beaming Wilder on the sidelines would care as United booked their rightful place at Wembley.
Away from those already named ensuring United’s night was straightforward, Michael Cooper did have to stay alert early on when Liam Manning’s visitors came racing out of the traps. In total, the ex-Plymouth Argyle stopper would make six saves to preserve his team’s clean sheet.
But, not every single United face played out of their skin during the second leg victory, with one out-of-sorts attacker now surely fearful for his starting spot at Wembley.
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The beauty of Monday night’s affair was the fact that Wilder could rest a handful of United players here and there, knowing that the 3-0 lead from the first leg gave them an immediate advantage.
Yet, Tom Cannon – who remained on the bench throughout at Ashton Gate – didn’t exactly put in a performance that is now befitting of a start at Wembley when handed his own first-team chance.
Minutes played
62
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches
18
Shots on target
0
Accurate passes
2/5 (40%)
Total duels won
5/9
Frustratingly, Cannon’s lacklustre showing against the visitors from Bristol was indicative of his whole goal-shy spell at Bramall Lane to date, with only one goal coming his way since making the £10m move from Leicester City back in January.
Judging by the grim numbers above, the Irishman very rarely looked like adding to his meagre one-goal account, with his shooting all off once more when failing to register a single on-target effort at Max O’Leary’s busy net.
To add insult to injury, his link-up play with the likes of Moore up top was also way off, with Cannon only managing two accurate passes all game, meaning he closed out his dire 62-minute stint with just a 40% pass accuracy next to his name.
The obvious alteration Wilder could make ahead of the final is to bring Tyrese Campbell back into the first team fold, considering it took the ex-Stoke City striker around 20 minutes of action to assist Callum O’Hare’s late goal.
After all, it would be an almighty risk on Wilder’s end to persist with Cannon when other attackers are in a richer vein of form, especially if the 22-year-old’s wastefulness costs his side big time in their one-off shot for immediate promotion.
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