Sheffield United finished third in the Championship this season, 10 points behind Leeds United and Burnley, though they enter the play-offs having been by far the best of the four sides since August. Contrastingly, Bristol City only clinched a play-off place with a final-day draw against Preston North End, finishing on 68 points.

A home crowd that has waited 17 years for a night like this. City’s last playoff appearance was in 2008, when they beat Crystal Palace in a dramatic semi-final before losing 1-0 to Phil Brown’s Hull at Wembley. They haven’t been in the top flight of English football since 1979-80.

Bristol City welcome Sheffield United to Ashton Gate for the first leg of their play-off semi-final on Thursday evening (8:00pm kick-off)