Sheffield United cruised into the Championship play-off final with a thumping 6-0 aggregate win over Bristol City.

The Blades, who won the first leg 3-0 at Ashton Gate on Thursday, started slowly but took the lead on the night when Kieffer Moore headed in Harrison Burrows' corner kick before the break.

Gus Hamer added to their advantage with a deflected long-range shot from a corner routine which found him in acres of space at the edge of the area, and substitute Callum O'Hare slammed home his side's sixth of the semi-final.

Chris Wilder's men will now face either Sunderland or Coventry City in the play-off final at Wembley on Saturday, 24 May as they look to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Sheffield United's victory, by a record scoreline for a play-off semi-final at this level, means that the team who finished third in the regular season have progressed to the Championship play-off final in nine of the past 10 seasons.

The Blades suffered a dismal relegation from the Premier League in the 2023-24 season but have enjoyed an excellent campaign this time around. They led the league going into the final seven games only for a run of four defeats from five in April to consign them to third place and the play-offs.

Much of the damage in this semi-final was done in the first leg when Rob Dickie's red card gave them a penalty kick that Burrows scored before the break and subs Andre Brooks and O'Hare added to.

City, needing to achieve something no team has done in play-off history and recover from losing the first leg at home by a margin of three goals, made an encouraging start but Scott Twine miscued their best opening.

United grew into it and got the first goal of the night when Moore was able to hold off a defender and head in from a corner kick with goalkeeper Max O'Leary unable to get to the ball first.

That ended any incredibly faint hopes that Liam Manning's side had and the Blades' second of the night summed up their semi-final.

First they coughed up possession on the halfway line to allow the home side to break and win a corner kick, then they failed to pick up Hamer on the edge of the area from the ensuing set-piece and his effort took a huge deflection to go in the far corner.

O'Hare, a beaten play-off finalist with Coventry two years ago, scored his second of the tie when Burrows added to his two assists of the night by stepping over Tyrese Campbell's low cross into the penalty area to allow the midfielder to convert first time.

In emotional scenes after the game, United players and staff celebrated with a Greece flag in honour of former Blades full-back George Baldock, who died at the age of 31 in October.

The South Yorkshire side have failed in all nine of their previous play-off campaigns and have failed to score in all four of their play-off finals to date. They will look to end what is the worst play-off record in the EFL a week on Saturday.

It was always going to be a big ask for Bristol City, who secured sixth spot on the final day of the regular season and were looking to reach the Premier League for the first time.

They finished three points closer to relegated Luton Town than they did their play-off opponent.

Robins fans will point to Joe Williams' shot which hit the crossbar in the opening minutes of Thursday's first leg and how the game was completely changed by Dickie's dismissal for hauling down Moore, but there were precious few bright moments for them across the two games.

With Williams out injured and Dickie banned they made four changes for this second leg and competed well in the first half, albeit they were unable to force Michael Cooper in the home goal into meaningful work.

Along with Preston North End they are the Championship's longest-serving side, with next season their 11th successive one at this level.

When the dust settles on this bruising play-off defeat they will reflect on an improved campaign and look to build over the summer.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"It was a tough evening for us. It's something I've not really experienced before going into a game 3-0 up.

"It's a fabulous night for all concerned.

"Our attitude right the way through since the Burnley game [when their automatic promotion hopes ended] has been spot on.

"It was important to get through the first 20 minutes, when I didn't think our press was great and it allowed them to cause us some nervy moments.

"They've given it a right go. They've got some talented young players and they've been stretched by injuries and haven't got the biggest group, so it was a tough night for them but they gave it a go until the end.

"It looks a pretty straightforward two games but it hasn't been. The biggest thing was getting the job done which we have."

Bristol City boss Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol:

"Naturally going into it after the first leg we knew how difficult it's going to be. It's such a difficult place to come but I'm hugely proud of the lads.

"I think we came and we had a go without having a bit of conviction or quality at the end of it between the boxes. Especially early on the first 15, 20 we came out and got in some great areas but lacked quality in the final bit - whether that's composure, conviction, we lacked that.

"I think probably the frustration is what leads to their set-pieces - great learning for the lads, we're a young group playing in pressurised games like this.

"If we take the lessons, we reflect and we're honest with ourselves and step up and take responsibility, it will only make the lads better."