Sheffield United vs Bristol City predictions: Back second-half fun in play-off rematch
Steve Palmer
Sheffield United beat Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate in the play-offs
City hammered Valladolid 4-0 in their final friendly
Recommended bet: Over 1.5 Second Half Goals
Three months after Sheffield United thrashed Bristol City 6-0 on aggregate to reach the Championship play-off final, the sides meet again in a 2025/26 curtain-raiser at Bramall Lane.
It looks a very different fixture this Saturday, however, with new United boss Ruben Selles and new City boss Gerhard Struber having made sizeable changes since arriving at their respective clubs.
The latest Sheffield United vs Bristol City odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Team news
United boss Ruben Selles will be hoping Jack Robinson is fit or he is short of recognised centre-backs.
Tom Davies, Jamie Shackleton and Oli Arblaster are out and Selles needs to decide if he wants to hand a debut to new defensive midfielder Djibril Soumare just days after arriving in Sheffield.
City centre-back Rob Dickie is suspended so Rob Atkinson should start in Gerhard Struber's back three.
Cam Pring, Luke McNally, Max Bird and Joe Williams are out while new No.9 Emil Riis can expect a debut after impressing in pre-season.
The latest Sheffield United vs Bristol City odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
The stats
United's six pre-season friendlies produced 31 goals.
City only won four away games last season though drew 10.
The Robins are without a clean sheet in their last 13 Championship matches.
The Blades' Gus Hamer picked up 13 yellow cards last term, the most in the division.
The latest Sheffield United vs Bristol City odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
Prediction
It has been all change at both Bramall Lane and Ashton Gate which makes this season-opener a tricky one to call.
The evidence of last term, when United beat City three times including 3-0 (twice) in the play-offs, would point to a routine home success.
But new boss Ruben Selles has seen an exodus of players and has not yet replaced them all while there is a spring in the step at City, who look like they are going to be more fun to watch under attack-minded head coach Gerhard Struber.
Both clubs ended pre-season on a positive with United winning 3-2 at Fulham in a two-hour marathon and City humbling Valladolid 4-0.
And that looks to be something of a template for the campaign which promises goals from two teams who want to press high and be on the front foot.
Opposing United on the opening day has to be an option — they just look too short given the upheaval at Bramall Lane. But instead have a look at second-half goals with at least two scored as players tire, with plenty of pace on both benches.
These teams averaged 13 shots per game last term — only three sides fired off more — and look even more positive this time round.
