Rochdale's defeat at home to MK Dons, twined with the Blades draw at Leyton Orient last Saturday guarenteed both United and tomorrow's opponents Chesterfield a place in the 2015 League One Play-offs. For United only a point (at least) would secure a 5th place finish and this would mean they would face Swindon Town in the semis.
However should they lose to the Spirites then the Blades WILL finish 6th and be forced to face either Milton Keynes Dons or Preston North End - the pair themselves are facing a last day battle for automatic promotion. The first leg will take place on Thursday, 7 May at Bramall Lane whilst the away leg will take place on Monday, 11th.
Play-offs-bound Sheffield United earned a 1-1 draw after Bob Harris' goal cancelled out a header by Mathieu Baudry that had given relegation-threatened Leyton Orient the lead. The home side had huffed and puffed without reward until the 71st minute when central defender Baudry met a corner from Dean Cox and sent an unstoppable header into the top right-hand corner from eight yards. However, in front of the O's biggest attendance of the season, Harris scored just six minutes later to win the Blades the point they needed to guarantee a play-off place.
He ran onto a clearance and powered a shot goalwards that saw the ball take a wicket deflection past Orient goalkeeper Alex Cisak and into the net. The O's stopper had earlier kept his side in the game in the opening period, pulling off a series of outstanding saves to deny Jason Holt and Jamie Murphy from point-blank range, while also extending to full stretch to palm away an effort from Che Adams. Orient still have a chance of avoiding the drop but have to win at Swindon next week and hope that other results go in their favour.
Despite wishing to finish 5th in the table and thus avoiding either MK Dons or Preston in the semis Baldes boss Nigel Clough may rest some of his key personnel with the likes of Matt Done and Ryan Flynn missing out but Stefan Scougall could be given a start after recovering from injury.
The Blades chief told BBC Radio Sheffield; "Going into the play-offs I don't think it matters who you play. Any team that is up there is more than capable on the day. We want to try and win the game so that we finish fifth and go into the play-offs off the back of a victory. I think they've been brilliant. There was no real pressure on them to get in the top six so it has been a major bonus for them. It would be special if we met them in the play-off final."
We would like to remind supporters that this match will kick-off at 12.15PM, tomorrow.
Chesterfield have managed to stutter to the play-offs despite losing top goalscorer Eoin Doyle (to Cardiff City) last January. They have lost just once in the previous six matches (drawn twice) but haven't won since 14 April when they dominated Colchester United by six goals without reply. There only defeat in that spell came at home to Bristol City last Saturday where they lost by two goals to nil. At Bramall Lane tomorrow the Spirites must claim a victory over the Blades in order to steal 5th spot and face Swindon Town in the two-legged semi-finals.
Another top-class display by Sky Bet League One champions Bristol City gave them a 2-0 win at Chesterfield, who secured a play-off place anyway courtesy of Rochdale's defeat to MK Dons. The visitors were always in control after Kieran Agard gave them a first-half lead and a header from Aden Flint early in the second period wrapped up the points. City took the field through a guard of honour from the Chesterfield players and management but the home side had the first chance when Jay O'Shea put Jimmy Ryan in on the right and Frank Fielding saved with his legs.
The visitors responded by taking the lead in the 31st minute as Agard went past Sam Hird and placed a low shot from 10 yards past Tommy Lee, who then denied the striker a second just before half-time. Sam Clucas had a chance after Gary Roberts put him in on the left but Fielding turned his shot behind and City increased their lead in the 55th minute when Flint climbed to head in a corner. Roberts hit the bar with a dipping shot from 25 yards in the 76th minute but City were deserved winners.
Spirites boss Paul Cook has no intention of resting any players has they seek to steal 5th spot from United. They will however be without Drew Talbot (hamstring) for their visit to Bramall Lane on Sunday. Cook told BBC Radio Sheffield; "Everyone knows each other inside out by this stage. You can't hide anything from anyone. This is a great game for us all and it's brilliant for us to be going there in the play-offs, with no pressure on us. I've only seen them play excellently this season and they've got strengths all over the pitch. They will get the utmost respect from us. It would be a dream for us to play them at Wembley. It would be a fantastic achievement for us."
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 2 Chesterfield 0
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