Sheffield United key matches for their return to the Championship

The 2024/25 Championship fixtures have finally been published and now we know who Sheffield United will be playing, some dates and times are subject to change as usual.

Opening day mechanism

Sheffield United will open their Championship campaign on August 9 away to Preston North End on Friday night, with the game being shown live on the new Sky Sports + Sky Sports channel.

Last season, Preston North End finished 10th in the table and ten points off the play-off places. If reports are anything to go by, potential Blades target Liam Millar could quickly return to Deepdale next season, where he has been adored by PNE fans.

United’s last five competitive meetings against the Lilywhites see them unbeaten:

06 Apr 2019 Preston North End 0-1 Sheffield United Championship

14 September 2021 Sheffield United 2-2 Preston North End Championship

18 January 2022 Preston North End 2-2 Sheffield United Championship

17 September 2022 Preston North End 0-2 Sheffield United Championship

29 April 2023 Sheffield United 4-1 Preston North End Championship

A positive first month?

United’s first home game of the new season comes against Queens Park Rangers on August 17. QPR managed a miraculous escape from relegation towards the end of the previous season and subsequently finished 18th, six points above the drop zone.

Here are the Blades’ last five competitive meetings with QPR:

12 January 2019 Sheffield United 1-0 Queens Park Rangers Championship

05 April 2022 Sheffield United 1-0 Queens Park Rangers Championship

29 April 2022 Queens Park Rangers 1-3 Sheffield United Championship

04 October 2022 Sheffield United 0-1 Queens Park Rangers Championship

02 January 2023 Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Sheffield United Championship

Chris Wilder’s Blades then travel to Norwich City on August 24. The Canaries are coming off the back of a disappointing play-off campaign; after drawing 0–0 against Leeds at Carrow Road, they would go on to thrash 4–0 in the away game.

United are unbeaten in their last five meetings against Norwich City:

26 January 2019 Norwich City 2-2 Sheffield United Championship

08 December 2019 Norwich City – 1-2 Sheffield United Premier League

07 March 2020 Sheffield United 1-0 Norwich City Premier League

22 October 2022 Sheffield United 2-2 Norwich City Championship

01 April 2023 Norwich City 0-1 Sheffield United Championship

To round off the month of August, the Blades host Watford on the 31st. Watford go into next season after another disappointing campaign. The Hornets finished 15th despite having one of the highest wage bills in the league.

Here are the last five competitive meetings between Sheffield United and Watford:

12 March 2011 Watford 3-0 Sheffield United Championship

05 October 2019 Watford 0-0 Sheffield United Premier League

26 December 2019 Sheffield United 1-1 Watford Premier League

01 August 2022 Watford 1-0 Sheffield United Championship

25 February 2023 Sheffield United 1-0 Watford Championship

Steel City derby dates

Starting now, Sheffield United host Sheffield Wednesday on November 9, while the Blades head to Hillsborough on March 15. It is the first time since the 2018/19 season that the two teams are in the same division.

Last five meetings Steel City:

26 February 2012 Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Sheffield United League One

24 September 2017 Sheffield Wednesday 2-4 Sheffield United Championship

12 January 2018 Sheffield United 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday Championship

09 November 2018 Sheffield United 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday Championship

04 March 2019 Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Sheffield United Championship

Other key accessories

Sheffield United host fellow relegated Burnley on Boxing Day. The Clarets ended their Premier League campaign by finishing 19th, eight points above the Blades.

Last five competitive meetings between United and Burnley:

23 May 2021 Sheffield United 1-0 Burnley Premier League

05 November 2022 Sheffield United 5-2 Burnley Championship

10 April 2023 Burnley 2-0 Sheffield United Championship

02 December 2023 Burnley – 5-0 Sheffield United Premier League

20 April 2024 Sheffield United 1-4 Burnley Premier League

The other festive event sees the Blades travel to Sunderland on New Year’s Day. Sunderland had a very disappointing last term and ultimately finished just six points above the drop zone after many had tipped them to be in the top six at the end of the season.

The last five meetings between United and Sunderland:

09 Sep 2017 Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield United Championship

26 December 2017 Sheffield United 3-0 Sunderland Championship

25 September 2019 Sheffield United 0-1 Sunderland League Cup

17 August 2022 Sheffield United 2-1 Sunderland Championship

15 March 2023 Sunderland 1-2 Sheffield United Championship