Sheffield United vs Sunderland: Three betting tips for Championship play-off final
Sheffield United and Sunderland go head-to-head at Wembley on Saturday with a place in the Premier League at stake in the Championship play-off final.
Adam Drury (@Adam_Drury1) picks out his best bets for the match, landing on 7/5, 11/2 and 10/1 selections.
Sheffield United vs Sunderland betting odds
90 minute result – Sheffield United 7/5, Draw 2/1, Sunderland 5/2
To win promotion – Sheffield United 4/6, Sunderland 6/5
Total goals - Under 2.5 8/15, Over 2.5 17/10
First goalscorer - Tyrese Campbell 6/1, No goalscorer 13/2, Wilson Isidor 7/1, Tom Cannon 7/1, 15/2 BAR
Sheffield United vs Sunderland preview and analysis
Not one for the purists
Championship play-off finals are fascinating because of the prize on offer rather than the football that is played.
All but one of the last 12 showdowns have featured under 2.5 goals, with the tension meaning teams play risk-free football.
Sheffield United matches are hardly free-scoring anyway, with just three of their last 11 games of the normal season going over 2.5
We can draw a line through their 3-0 victories over Bristol City in the semi-final as the first came against 10 men and the second when there was no jeopardy in the tie.
Only two of Sunderland’s last 10 games have seen three goals scored, so this has all the hallmarks of a low scoring affair.
Sheffield United vs Sunderland betting tips
Feisty, low scoring affair looks likely
To boost the odds, I’m going to include three players to make a tackle in the bet builder.
Gus Hamer has made a challenge in each of his last six matches and in 27 of his last 31 overall.
Enzo Le Fee has made a tackle in every one of his 17 appearances since signing for Sunderland in January.
And his team-mate Jobe Bellingham has also come up trumps in this market in five straight matches and nine of his last 10.
Under 2.5 goals combined with a tackle for each of those three players comes in at 7/5 with Bet365.
Two correct score pokes
I think Sheffield United are worthy favourites here, having finished 14 points clear of Sunderland in the league season – actually picking up 16 more but suffering a two-point deduction.
Chris Wilder’s side have shrugged off their disappointment at missing out on automatic promotion by winning three of their last four matches and have players all over the pitch who can win them the game.
Sunderland scratched through their semi-final tie against Coventry but were on the back foot for long spells of it.
They have only won one of their last eight matches overall and I just sense the Blades are likely to find a way.
Combined with the goals logic laid out above, I’m going to have a small play on 1-0 and 2-0 wins for Sheffield United in the correct score market.
Recommended bets for Sheffield United vs Sunderland – Saturday May 24, 2025
1pt - Under 2.5 goals and Hamer, Le Fee and Bellingham all to make a tackle – 7/5 (Bet365)
0.25pt - Sheffield United to win 1-0 – 11/2 (Star Sports)
0.25pt - Sheffield United to win 2-0 – 10/1 (Betfred)