Championship
Bristol CityBristol City2Sheff UtdSheffield United3

Bristol City 2-3 Sheffield United

Aden Flint
Aden Flint got Bristol City back in the game with his ninth goal of the season

Sheffield United held off a second-half fightback from Bristol City to end their Championship season with a win.

The Blades raced into a three-goal lead thanks to strikes from Leon Clarke, Billy Sharp and Kieron Freeman.

Aden Flint headed in Josh Brownhill's corner to give the hosts a lifeline and Joe Bryan's curled home a fine free-kick to make it 3-2.

Lee Johnson's side pushed on for a late leveller but the Blades held out to finish 10th in the table.

Both teams had still been in contention for a play-off place until last week but went into Sunday's game with only pride at stake.

Chris Wilder's side stunned the hosts with three goals in the opening 34 minutes, with Freeman's volley the pick of the bunch.

Johnson's team had been second on Boxing Day but a poor second half of the campaign means they finish 11th, one place and two points behind the Blades.

Bristol City boss Lee Johnson:

"There was no intensity to our play in the first half, yet in the second we showed what a good side we can be.

"That sort of sums up our season. We can be very good or very bad, but overall it has been a good season for us.

"I tried a few things today, looking forward to next season, and selected some of our younger players.

"I know exactly what I need in the summer and, with the backing of the board, which I know I will get, I am sure the future is bright."

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder:

"I have nothing more to say about my position. That is for another day.

"Today I want to talk about my team and the achievement of a top 10 finish in the Championship with a bottom six budget. I would like to thank my staff and everyone involved.

"I found the support for me humbling. But it is the players who should take the credit for a great last day performance against a team who have also had a very good season."

Line-ups

Bristol City

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Fielding
  • 8Brownhill
  • 4FlintBooked at 17mins
  • 25Kelly Substituted forSemenyoat 79'minutes
  • 3BryanBooked at 49mins
  • 19Eliasson Substituted forO'Dowdaat 57'minutes
  • 21PackBooked at 90mins
  • 7Smith
  • 20Paterson Substituted forMagnussonat 45'minutes
  • 14Reid
  • 9DiedhiouBooked at 42mins

Substitutes

  • 10Taylor
  • 11O'Dowda
  • 12Walsh
  • 15Steele
  • 23Magnusson
  • 30Bakinson
  • 42Semenyo

Sheff Utd

Formation 3-5-2

  • 1Moore
  • 6Basham
  • 19StearmanBooked at 74mins
  • 5O'Connell
  • 18Freeman Substituted forBaldockat 63'minutesBooked at 88mins
  • 14Leonard Substituted forLundstramat 58'minutes
  • 20Evans
  • 4Fleck
  • 3Stevens
  • 10Sharp Substituted forBrooksat 80'minutes
  • 9Clarke

Substitutes

  • 2Baldock
  • 7Lundstram
  • 21Duffy
  • 24Lafferty
  • 31Eastwood
  • 32Evans
  • 36Brooks
Referee:
Peter Bankes
Attendance:
23,902

Match Stats

Home TeamBristol CityAway TeamSheff Utd
Possession
Home44%
Away56%
Shots
Home10
Away5
Shots on Target
Home5
Away3
Corners
Home2
Away3
Fouls
Home16
Away16

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Bristol City 2, Sheffield United 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Bristol City 2, Sheffield United 3.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Leon Clarke (Sheffield United).

  4. Post update

    Josh Brownhill (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Josh Brownhill (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Enda Stevens (Sheffield United).

  7. Post update

    Famara Diedhiou (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  8. Booking

    Marlon Pack (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  9. Post update

    David Brooks (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Marlon Pack (Bristol City).

  11. Post update

    Offside, Sheffield United. Enda Stevens tries a through ball, but Leon Clarke is caught offside.

  12. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  13. Post update

    Delay in match Famara Diedhiou (Bristol City) because of an injury.

  14. Booking

    George Baldock (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  15. Post update

    Foul by George Baldock (Sheffield United).

  16. Post update

    Famara Diedhiou (Bristol City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  17. Post update

    Richard Stearman (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City).

  19. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  20. Post update

    Delay in match David Brooks (Sheffield United) because of an injury.

As It Stood

Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1 Wolves 46 30 9 7 82 39 43 99
2 Cardiff 46 27 9 10 69 39 30 90
3 Fulham 46 25 13 8 79 46 33 88
4 Aston Villa 46 24 11 11 72 42 30 83
5 Middlesbrough 46 22 10 14 67 45 22 76
6 Derby 46 20 15 11 70 48 22 75
7 Preston 46 19 16 11 57 46 11 73
8 Millwall 46 19 15 12 56 45 11 72
9 Brentford 46 18 15 13 62 52 10 69
10 Sheff Utd 46 20 9 17 62 55 7 69
11 Bristol City 46 17 16 13 67 58 9 67
12 Ipswich 46 17 9 20 57 60 -3 60
13 Leeds 46 17 9 20 59 64 -5 60
14 Norwich 46 15 15 16 49 60 -11 60
15 Sheff Wed 46 14 15 17 59 60 -1 57
16 QPR 46 15 11 20 58 70 -12 56
17 Nottm Forest 46 15 8 23 51 65 -14 53
18 Hull 46 11 16 19 70 70 0 49
19 Birmingham 46 13 7 26 38 68 -30 46
20 Reading 46 10 14 22 48 70 -22 44
21 Bolton 46 10 13 23 39 74 -35 43
22 Barnsley 46 9 14 23 48 72 -24 41
23 Burton 46 10 11 25 38 81 -43 41
24 Sunderland 46 7 16 23 52 80 -28 37
View full Championship table

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