Chris Wilder says what ‘everybody’ has been telling him after missing out on promotion to Leeds United

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Leeds United and Sheffield United were part of a four-way tussle for automatic promotion from the Championship for much of the season.

Four became three fairly quickly when Leeds United knocked Sunderland out of the running. The Blades even led the way after that stage, when it looked as though a 3-1 win at Bramall Lane would get the Whites over the line but Leeds had to kick up a gear and ‘astounded’ pundits on their way.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	46	29	13	4	95	30	65	100
2	BurnleyBurnley	46	28	16	2	69	16	53	100
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	46	28	8	10	63	36	27	90
4	SunderlandSunderland	46	21	13	12	58	44	14	76
5	CoventryCoventry	46	20	9	17	64	58	6	69
6	Bristol CityBristol City	46	17	17	12	59	55	4	68

However, a late season collapse meant Leeds and Burnley were able to storm clear and reach 100 points. It left Chris Wilder and Sheffield United with the play-offs to contend with instead despite reaching 90 points (92 were it not for a two-point deduction).

They faced Bristol City but secured their place at Wembley in style last night after a 6-0 win on aggregate against Liam Manning and co. The Blades have never won a play-off final but have the opportunity to do so against either Sunderland or Coventry City to join Daniel Farke in the top flight.

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Chris Wilder outlines his ‘jealousy’ of Leeds and Burnley

Leeds are planning for the Premier League, while the Blades could soon follow. Despite securing their place at Wembley, Wilder had plenty to say about both Burnley and Leeds in his post-match interview with Sky Sports.

Speaking to David Prutton, he said: “It’s been an incredibly challenging season for us. To have a night like this in front of our spectators gives the boys a boost and the recognition they really deserve.

“Of course, it’s a one-off and it’ll bring noise as it does [the final]. It’ll bring excitement and everything that a Wembley final will bring but we have to get the balance right.

“We can’t be too emotional about the game. Hopefully, that’s going to be the biggest task for the players. Because they’re bound to be excited. Everybody tells me it’s the best way to be promoted.

“But we’ve still got work to do and a job to do. It obviously didn’t go to the last game, which, for me, would I have liked it to have gone to the last game? Absolutely.

“We’re jealous in terms of two teams that have got promoted automatically, of course we are. The talk afterward was key and we all put the messages out there that we have got work to do and we should look forward to it.

“There’s been challenging things right the way through and then the bit at the end. We’re incredibly disappointed. But as I’ve said, and I’ve gone on record many times, for two teams to get 100 points is just an insane season.

“For us to get 92 points and not go up? And then the narrative of the team in third place and how they’re going to be and what’s that reaction going to be like? I’ve got to say, the reaction’s been first class and the results have shown that.”

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Who Leeds should want to win the play-off final at Wembley

There are numerous different ways of looking at the remaining play-off teams and determining who you want to succeed. Sunderland are the ‘biggest’ club who will add the most value to the Premier League.

However, both the Blades and Coventry City are big names in their own right, with Cov not playing Premier League football for over two decades now. That said, not many Leeds fans are keen to see Frank Lampard succeed.

There is an argument to be made that the worst teams should be who Leeds want to go up with, making their chance of achieving more points than them a greater one.

But it could also be argued that you want at least one other team who will take points off the sides in and around the relegation places that the Whites are trying to finish higher than if Leeds can spend wisely.

Therefore, it is too difficult to say for sure. However, most Leeds supporters are unlikely to want success for Wilder or Lampard; that much is certain.