Points tally needed for playoff spot in last five years as clear Sheffield United target emerges

Sheffield United will be hoping to end the season in fine form as they go in search of a top six finish this season. The Blades are currently fifth in the Championship table with a mere eight games remaining, five of which are at Bramall Lane.

With last season's play-off victors Brentford enjoying a steady start to live in the top flight, United will hope to ensure their immediate return to the Premier League this season. Stoke City pose the next test for Paul Heckingbottom's side, before back-to-back home games against QPR and Bournemouth soon follow.

But with only five points separating the team positioned from third down to ninth, it won't be an easy task given the competitiveness of the division. With teams such as Blackburn, Middlesborough and QPR all hot on the Blades heels, it is sure to be a frantic end to the campaign.

With 77 points needed during the 20/21 season, the 80 point mark seems perhaps a strong figure for Heckingbottom's side to aim at. Swansea were the sixth placed side in 19/20 with 70 points, whilst Frank Lampard's Derby County secured the final play-off space with 74 in 18/19.

County again placed sixth back in 17/18 with 75 points, as Aston Villa were promoted back to the top flight, with Fulham's 80 points enough for them to sneak in ahead of Leeds United back in the 16/17 campaign.

If we now look at Sheffield United's current PPG across the season, the figure comes out at 1.61, slightly lower than their current last eight-game percentile of 1.75. If we add that to their current Championship points tally of 61, based on their last eight games, we can see the Blades are heading towards a final total of 73.88 points.

Now, if we are to round up and say United finished with a total of 74 points