Comparing Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers’ run-in – Who has the easier fixtures?

It should be a closely fought contest between several teams in the Championship as to who claims those elusive play-off spots come the end of the campaign.

The two teams in pole position right now for fifth and sixth place are Sheffield United and Blackburn, with both clubs currently occupying those spots. Their fates are in their own hands and if one of them slips up, then the likes of QPR, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest will all be ready to steal a spot from them.

With only eight and seven games left respectively, now is not the time to be losing games and dropping points though. Both clubs will want to ensure they are in those play-offs in May and both sides will also be thinking that there is an outside chance of a top two spot as well.

In addition, the higher up you finish the better, as it could potentially give you a slightly easier fixture in those play-offs (although no game is ever easy!)

With that in mind then, who looks like they have the better run in and who looks like they could be in a better position out of Blackburn and Sheffield United?

Blackburn’s remaining games are as follows: Coventry (A), Blackpool (H), Peterborough (A), Stoke (H), Preston (A), Bournemouth (H), Birmingham (A).

There are certainly some tough fixtures in there and points will not be easy to come by. Coventry are as determined to land a top six place as Rovers are, so will need to get a win in that game and Bournemouth too are eyeing automatic promotion. Peterborough need points to escape a relegation battle too and a game against Preston is always fierce and could go either way.

As for Sheffield United, their run is as follows: Stoke (A), QPR (H), Bournemouth (H), Reading (H), Bristol City (A), Cardiff (H), QPR (A), Fulham (H).