As the regular 2024/2025 EFL Championship season finishes, all eyes now turn towards the highly anticipated Championship Play-Offs.
The four teams competing for the last remaining spot in the 2025/2026 Premier League are Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Bristol City.
All of the sides come into the season-defining fixtures on differing runs of form, with the Black Cats, in particular, stuttering through their final games.
However, as we have seen before, truly anything can happen when the stakes are this high.
This article will analyse the teams involved, examine their recent form, and consider how they may set up in the hugely important matches ahead.
EFL Championship Table 2024/2025
The table above shows where the teams competing in this year’s Play-Offs finished in the regular league season.
Sheffield United finished with the most points of the four play-off sides and were in the hunt for automatic promotion until the final few weeks.
On the other hand, Bristol City and Coventry City only cemented their spots on the final day.
Bristol managed to draw against Preston North End, whilst Coventry comfortably overcame Middlesbrough.
Interestingly, when looking at expected points numbers, Sheffield United fall from a comfortable top of the play-off heap to third, with Coventry City rising as far as second place—even above Burnley.
Sunderland’s expected points numbers also trump Sheffield United’s, despite their real points tally trailing quite far behind.
Below, I will summarise each club’s squads and analyse how they have set up tactically in the 2024/2025 season.
Sheffield United Team Analysis
Form: L W L W D
Manager: Chris Wilder
Sheffield United Squad Overview
Third-placed Sheffield United are a side filled to the brim with individual quality.
Michael Cooper, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Sydie Peck and Vini Souza form a consistently solid spine, and the attacking quality in front of them is a formidable obstacle for any opposition.
Tom Cannon, Gustavo Hamer, Ben Brereton Diaz, Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell are just a few of the names to keep an eye out for, and it is no surprise they were one of the division’s top scorers.
The quality of their squad stands above that of the other promotion candidates.
Should they manage to keep them in the games till the end of the season, the Blades will be very hard to stop.
Average Age: 25.1
Potential Injuries: Ollie Arblaster, Harry Souttar, Femi Seriki, Rhys Norrington-Davies
Sheffield United Tactics
Sheffield United look to play attacking, direct football without compromising defensive stability.
In terms of shape, this Sheffield United version is much different from Wilder’s previous promotion campaign.
However, he does maintain similar principles of play in the attack.
For starters, the 4-2-3-1 adopted this year automatically incorporates more width, with wingers and full-backs both operating down the flanks.
In his first spell, the set-up included three central defenders and three central midfielders.
Instead, Wilder now looks to create central overloads by asking his wide attackers, such as Hamer and Brereton Diaz, to drop into inside areas.
This leaves spaces in the outside channel.
His full-backs then push on into the wide areas vacated, and Harrison Burrows, in particular, has been successful in creating after running into these gaps.
Sunderland Team Analysis
Form: L L L L L
Manager: Regis Le Bris
Sunderland Squad Overview
Sunderland have a very young squad, but one that is full of potential and individual quality.
Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham are brilliant at controlling the tempo of the game, while Enzo Le Fée, Patrick Roberts, and Chris Rigg provide a cutting-edge edge to their attack.
In defence, full-back Trai Hume has been a revelation this year and contributes heavily at both ends of the pitch.
Luke O’Nien is another key player.
Previously, the definition of versatility was that he is now a stalwart of the defence and plays centre-back for most of their games.
Average age: 23.9
Potential Injuries: Ajibola Alese, Ian Poveda, Niall Huggins, Jayden Danns, Ahmed Abdullahi
Sunderland Tactics
Le Bris adopts an attacking style of football and uses a 4-2-3-1 shape to achieve this.
The Frenchman looks to use fast attacks and direct passes to exploit vulnerabilities in the opposition.
Either from recovery or build-up, Sunderland attempted to attract the opposition into the press before bursting into attacks themselves.
From here, the primary focus is creating wide overloads.
Sunderland keeps their wingers near the touchline and provides numbers by allowing full-backs to press forwards on the overlap or underlap.
This approach was very successful until the last couple of months of the season.
A combination of burnout, player rotation, and potential tactical mitigation from opposition managers has led to five defeats in their last five.
Whether or not they can regain confidence and belief will determine how they perform in Friday night’s big game.
Coventry City Team Analysis
Form: D W L L W
Manager: Frank Lampard
Coventry City Squad Overview
Coventry’s recruitment has been exceptional in the last few years, which is evident with their current squad.
In attack, they have an abundance of direct threats.
Ellis Simms, Haji Wright, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and Ephran Mason-Clark are all dangerous, whilst in defence centre-back Bobby Thomas leads decisively.
However, the real difference maker for this Coventry side lies in the heart of the pitch.
Since his arrival, the summer acquisition of Matt Grimes has been tremendous.
Grimes, alongside Ben Sheaf, Jack Rudoni, and Victor Torp, makes up a truly top-level midfield with complementary profiles.
Average age: 25.8
Potential Injuries: Ephron Mason-Clark, Norman Bassette, Oliver Dovin, Victor Torp
Coventry City Tactics
After a dismal first half of the season, Lampard was brought in to try and rejuvenate Coventry City.
Since then, he has his side very well drilled and high in confidence, and they have quickly become a high-pressing, aggressive football team.
A large part of his side’s progression has been down to a switch to a consistent formation.
Their approach was fluid in the first half of the season, but since January, they have focused primarily on a 4-2-3-1 shape.
This allows the Sky Blues to press very high off the ball and seek to recover possession as high up the pitch as possible.
Once on the ball, January recruit Matt Grimes is pivotal.
In the build-up, the centre-backs look to play passes into Grimes, who then distributes wide to either fullbacks or wingers, depending on their availability.
Coventry then becomes very proactive and risk-taking.
Lampard asks his full-backs to overlap and contribute heavily, and the wingers are given a lot of attacking freedom.
Once a potential key pass appears, they look to execute instantaneously.
This approach makes them relentless to play against, as they give the opposition no time to rest in either stage of the game.
This could easily suit the high-emotion, nervy games the Play-Offs invite.
Bristol City Team Analysis
Form: D W L L D
Manager: Liam Manning
Bristol City Squad Overview
Bristol City arguably lacks the same glimmering personnel as the other Play-Off sides, but this does not make them less of a threat.
Many of the current squad were signed from lower Championship or League One sides but have been coached to a much higher level.
Jason Knight and Max Bird have flourished this season, and Anis Mehmeti has been another shining light.
Anis Mehmeti, signed from Wycombe Wanderers, is now their top scorer and is having an impressive breakout year.
Rob Dickie is a key player at the back and is a massive part of their leadership, helping command throughout games.
Average age: 25.9
Potential Injuries: Cameron Pring, Mark Sykes, Luke McNally, Ayman Benarous
Bristol City Tactics
Liam Manning’s side typically plays in a 3-4-2-1 formation, focusing on strong foundations and structural adaptability.
Whilst Manning teams are typically very possession-focused and structured in their approach, the Robins are a much more flexible side.
This year, they have averaged just 50.9% possession, which leaves them 10th in the league.
Instead, Bristol are extremely impressive in the press and are very strategic with their approach to ball recovery.
They look to push the opposition wide and force rushed decisions in possession before creating defensive overloads with high-pressing wing-backs and wide midfielders doubling up.
In central areas, they then have the hard-working Jason Knight and Max Bird to press and challenge for any misplaced passes.
Thanks to Manning, they are a very intelligent side, and they often succeed in creating traps and winning the ball high.
If Bristol City are to succeed, this ability to limit the opposition and play intelligently in possession will be crucial.
Sheffield United Vs Bristol City Preview
The Blades are undefeated in the two previous meetings between the sides this season.
As recently as March, the two teams battled out a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane.
Sykes provided a late equaliser for the away side.
Coming into the first vs sixth place fixture, there seems to be a clear favourite in terms of progression.
Despite Bristol City’s strengths, Sheffield United will undoubtedly have more belief.
The first leg at Ashton Gate is set to be very interesting.
The Robins have made their home a fortress this year, winning 13 from 23, while Wilders’ side also have 13 victories from 23 away fixtures, the second-best record in the division.
However, the key to this fixture is likely to come in the second leg.
Bristol City have won just four times away from home, conceding 35 goals in the process.
Bramall Lane is notoriously difficult to go to, and on a huge night, in front of a sold-out crowd, it will be a hugely challenging venue for Bristol City to try to change their away fortunes.
Experience may also be crucial here.
Many of the Mannings squad will be having their first taste of the Championship Play-Offs, and how they cope will be key to their chances of progression.
Chris Wilder most certainly has a promotion pedigree, and many of the players also have experience of promotion from the EFL Championship or disappointment in the Play-Offs.
Ahmedhodzic and Kieffer Moore could be pivotal in keeping morale high and heads calm throughout the tie.
Sheffield United Vs Bristol City Prediction
Sheffield United victory in the Second Leg.
Sunderland Vs Coventry City Preview
Coventry had the edge the last time these Championship Heavyweights faced off.
A 3-0 hammering, courtesy of a Haji Wright hat trick, arguably started the bad form that befitted the end of the Mackems’ season.
On paper, this match-up seems much more difficult to predict.
Over the 46-game season, Sunderland accrued seven more points.
However, in their previous ten fixtures, they have won just twice and collected a measly eight points.
Confidence and belief can be everything in games as tense and high-stakes as the Play-Offs.
Le Bris has the task of reminding Sunderland how good they can be.
It remains to be seen whether he will be able to do so in time for Friday.
His side also has the benefit of a home second leg, and Coventry sits just 12th in the away League standings.
This may provide the glimmer of hope needed to boost morale, though they must survive the Coventry City Stadium first and foremost.
Sunderland Vs Coventry City Prediction
Coventry City narrow victory over two legs.
Conclusion
The Championship Play-Offs are always an enticing affair, and this year will be no different.
With promotion to the Premier League at stake, anything can happen.
Emotions are high, fans are loud, and results can be shocking.
That being said, this year’s favourites for the first leg have to be Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United.
The Blades have the individual quality to make the difference and the defence to shut out any side.
The second game will be much tighter, but I predict a Sheffield United vs Coventry City Final.
The momentum at this stage of the season can be pivotal, and that falls with Lampard’s Sky Blues.
