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Sunderland are preparing to face off against Sheffield United in a match dubbed 'the richest game in football', as both teams look to achieve promotion to the Premier League.
And, with the Premier League in the crosshairs, fans will be looking to the past for how the club has fared against the Blades across both teams' histories.
Tickets for the final went on sale on Wednesday (May 14) with season ticket holders getting priority access.
Scanning the record books will lead to mixed feeling for Sunderland fans, with historic results proving more fruitful for the Wearsiders than more recent results.
Overall record
Sunderland have played Sheffield United 147 since their first meeting in the FA Cup in 1893.
The Black Cats have emerged victorious in 67 of those ties. The clubs have drawn 26 times and Sheffield United have won on 54 occasions.
This season
In the Championship this season, it is one game apiece for the play-off finalists. Each won their respective home game.
Their first meeting, at Brammall Lane, saw a 1-0 win for the home side with both teams reduced to 10 men after Harry Souttar and Chris Mepham were sent off. It was a game which saw Patrick Roberts miss a penalty as Sunderland recorded a higher xG than their opponents despite defeat.
In the reverse fixture held on New Year's Day, Sunderland players scored all three goals as the club won 2-1 at the Stadium of Light. Luke O'Nien's own goal cancelled out Eliezer Mayenda's opener, but the three points were secured by Wilson Isidor moments later.
(Image: Richard Sellers / PA) In the play-offs
Sunderland have come up against the Blades in the play-offs once before.
In the semi-final of their ill-fated 1997/98 play-off campaign, Peter Reid's side turned around a 2-1 deficit in the first leg to win 3-2 on aggregate back at the Stadium of Light thanks to forward Kevin Phillips.
However, penalty heartbreak awaited the club in the final against Charlton, who won promotion after Micky Gray's penalty was saved seeing the London side win 7-6 after spot kicks.
Struggles this century
However, in results since the turn of the millennium, it is the Blades that have the upper hand.
The clubs have played 13 times in the 21st century, with Sheffield United winning seven times and Sunderland winning six.
Interestingly, they have never played out a draw against each other since 1999.
(Image: Richard Sellers / PA) Recommended reading
Frank Lampard's 'atmosphere gone' claim & Dan Ballard Sunderland dressing room speech
How Regis Le Bris and his Sunderland squad will prepare for the play-off final
Sunderland vs Sheffield United play-off final kick-off time latest amid EFL talks
Record results
Sunderland's largest win in this fixture came in the 19th century - a 4-1 Division One win on Wearside in 1894.
Sheffield United's biggest win against Sunderland was a 4-0 win at home in 1895, again in Division One.
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