Sheffield United fans are preparing for the trip to Wembley on Saturday, as they face Sunderland in the Championship play-off final, with a place in the Premier League at stake.
The Blades finished third in the regular season, and therefore they will be playing in their home kit in the capital, with supporters hoping that the South Yorkshire outfit can put an end to their disastrous play-off history.
However, Sunderland have been strong against Sheffield United this season, and this weekend’s clash looks as though it will be as closely fought as those two games.
Nevertheless, there is one particular statistic that favours Chris Wilder’s side on Saturday, and there is nothing that the Black Cats can do to change it.
Sheffield United supporters are in the East Stand at Wembley, Championship sides have a strong record at that end
Both teams have been given just over 35,000 tickets for the game, and while there is technically no home advantage, one side of the stadium has offered more winners than the other.
Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images
Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images
Since the first Championship play-off final was played at the new Wembley Stadium in 2007, 10 of the 17 winners (excluding Fulham in 2020 due to the match being played behind closed doors) have had their supporters in the East Stand.
Derby County started this 18 years ago, when they beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0, with four of the first five winners having their fans on that side of the ground.
Sheffield United will be looking to follow the trend on Saturday, although they are one of the unlucky seven to have been defeated while sitting in the East Stand. Wade Elliott scored one of the great play-off final goals against the Blades for Burnley in 2009, as the Clarets ran out 1-0 victors.
The last eight winners have alternated between the two halves, however, with Southampton’s supporters being based in the West Stand during their 1-0 win over Leeds United last season, and Wilder has the opportunity to continue that pattern.
Blades supporters may feel outnumbered in London
Although in the stands it will be 50:50, Sunderland fans have proven in the past just how loyal and passionate their support is and London will be filled with Black Cats supporters.
They have a history, alongside their rivals Newcastle United, of meeting at Trafalgar Square the evening before kick-off, and the capital may feel like a lonely place to be a Blade.
However, Sheffield United also have a very strong fanbase, and Wembley will be a sea of red-and-white on Saturday afternoon and Wilder will be hoping to continue his play-off record.
With over 35,000 fans backing him, the Blades have every chance of joining Leeds and Burnley back in the Premier League, as they look to avenge their desperate 2023/24 top flight campaign when they finished bottom of the table.