Sheffield United is gearing up for a crucial EFL Championship clash against Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday afternoon, April 5, 2025. Under the guidance of manager Chris Wilder, the Blades are determined to maintain their position at the top of the Championship table, riding high on a five-match unbeaten streak.
The Blades enter the weekend following a dominant win over Coventry City, and with promotion rivals Leeds United and Burnley involved in early kick-offs, Wilder’s men have the chance to capitalize on any potential dropped points and extend their two-point advantage.
This match marks Sheffield United’s first visit to Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium since their 2016/17 League One title-winning campaign, where they edged a thrilling 3-2 victory. That result helped propel them to the Championship, and they’ll be looking to channel similar energy on Saturday in hopes of securing the Championship title.
Adding to the optimism, Sheffield United has been handed a significant boost as midfielder Vinicius Souza has returned to full training. Wilder confirmed that the Brazilian was nearly involved last Friday but was held back as a precaution.
Despite Oxford United’s current struggles, having registered just one win in their last nine games, Wilder had high praise for the U’s. He stated, “Incredibly competitive and experienced manager that’s gone in and won games at the start [of his tenure], and, as we all know, you’ve got to do a lot of things right to win games of football in the Championship. They got promoted through the play-offs and they’re finding their feet, and it will be a massive achievement for them [to stay in the division] as it will be for all three promoted clubs. They’ve given themselves a fighting chance so we’re expecting their best.”
Oxford United earned their promotion through the League One play-offs last season and are now battling to secure their Championship status. However, their chances of getting anything from this game appear minimal on paper. Nonetheless, Wilder is not taking any game for granted, emphasizing the need for his team to remain focused.
“We won’t [take games for granted]. I’m too long in the tooth for that. Too experienced to know you have to fight for everything. We’ve had to fight all season, I’ve had to fight for everything in my career, this club has had to fight for everything it’s achieved since 2016. It’s not been given to us, it’s not been given by a chequebook. We’ve earned the right to invest in terms of success and getting into the Premier League, and we’re going to have to earn that right in the last seven games. It’s a fantastic tussle between three really big clubs in the division,” Wilder remarked.
Wilder also highlighted the unity and togetherness within the Sheffield United squad as a key factor behind their success. “The togetherness is crucial,” he added. “The players who are playing, the ones who aren’t, the injured players; they’re at one. I’m not going into the canteen and I’ve got a group over there, a group over there, a little group over there chatting, and the young kids chatting. They’re all together and that’s shown [on the pitch].”
As Sheffield United prepares for this pivotal encounter, all eyes will be on the Kassam Stadium as they look to solidify their position in the Championship and take a step closer to their ultimate goal of promotion to the Premier League. The match promises to be an exciting clash as both teams have much at stake, with Sheffield United aiming to extend their lead at the top while Oxford United fights to stay afloat in the division.
