This is the post-season that the Blades probably did not want, having spent so much time in the top two in League One only to falter late in the game and surrender the initiative to Sheffield Wednesday – who took great delight in obliging.

Danny Wilson’s men only lost one of their last 12 matches in the regular season but the last three games proved their undoing – starting with losing at MK Dons on April 21.

United still had the chance of automatic promotion but could only draw their last two games to finish three points behind Wednesday and in the dreaded play-offs.

In theory, Wilson’s charges have been handed the easier last-four clash as they take on the side that finished sixth in the table, courtesy of a better goal difference.

However, one of those late draws was suffered at the hands of the Boro, who had actually gone 2-0 up in the Bramall Lane fixture, only to be denied the three points by an 85th-minute equaliser.

Gary Smith’s men may well be the outsiders to triumph at Wembley, but they can take plenty of confidence into the play-offs against United, not least because of that recent draw.

Stevenage also won the fixture at Broadhall Way earlier in the season so should be relishing the play-off match-up as they go into Friday’s fixture having lost just one of their last 16 games.

The hosts have also made Broadhall Way something of a fortress, having lost just three times at home, and they have been installed as the favourites at 11/8 to win the first leg, with United priced at 2/1 and the draw is on offer at 9/4.

In fact, the Boro have only been beaten nine times this season in the league, but the big problem for Smith and his men is finding ways to win – the club has been held to 19 draws this season, 10 of which came in the last 16 games of the season and seven of those were in March.

However, a 3-0 win over Bury to ensure a play-off place as well as their season record against the Blades, who will be the side suffering the weight of expectation, should set them up well for the first leg – especially with the home crowd behind them.

The goals have been spread around among the Stevenage players with Chris Beardsley, Luke Freeman and Michael Bostwick scoring seven, while captain Mark Roberts has chipped in with six and may well tempt some at 20/1 to score first, while Scott Laird needs to be considered at 12/1 as he has notched eight times this season.

United have scored plenty of goals this season, but they of course are shorn of top-scorer Ched Evans, although Richard Cresswell (6/1) and Lee Williamson (10/1) have both regularly found the net this term.

The Blades carry an obvious threat having been there or thereabouts for automatic promotion for most of the season, but Stevenage have nothing to lose and will be going all out to secure an advantage to take to Bramall Lane next week.

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Carlisle currently sit just outside the play-off places in eighth but a win this week would move them above Notts County and into seventh while Stevenage, currently three points behind Tuesday’s opponents in ninth, know they are approaching last-chance saloon in their bid to be involved in the end-of-season drama next month.

Going into the game, both sides also know that it looks like there’s just that one play-off place up for grabs now as three from Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons, Huddersfield and County look certainties to be involved, meaning the Cumbrians, Stevenage and Brentford will have to battle for that remaining spot.

Carlisle’s form going into the game is not that of a promotion-chasing side, however, as Greg Abbot’s side are without a win in four.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against champions Charlton can be forgiven as Chris Powell’s men have brushed aside pretty much everyone in the division this term but they will need to get back to winning ways if they are to push for seventh.

Abbot also suffered a blow when it was confirmed the influential Lee Miller, who has scored 15 goals this season, and Chris Chantler will both miss the run-in through injury, so Stevenage will eye a real chance to secure a valuable win themselves.

They come into the game on the back of a stunning 6-0 triumph over Yeovil – a win that finally ended a seven-game run without a victory – and this clash is one of three home games they have out of the final four that remain.

That will give the men from Broadhall Way hope that they can overhaul the points deficit and sneak into the play-offs and, although they have one tough trip on the road to Sheffield United to contend with, Stevenage will fancy their chances – both in this game and in their remaining matches (Stevenage HT/FT – 9/4).

Carlisle edged the earlier game between these two 1-0 back in September and another tight match is predicted but we see Stevenage gaining revenge and claiming a narrow win, take 2-1 at 8/1 (correct score market) to keep their play-off hopes alive.

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Accrington finished four points ahead of Stevenage (23/10 to win the game) in the table but it is the visitors who have the upper hand as they look for a second successive promotion under Graham Westley.

John Coleman worked a minor miracle to guide Stanley to a fifth-placed finish and he has had to deal with a bug hitting his squad in the build-up to this second leg.

Despite this he is expected to name his strongest line-up, while goalkeeper Alex Cisak is fit to play after his dead leg in the first leg defeat.

The Accrington (11/10 to win the game) boss saw his side win 1-0 when the two teams met at the Crown Ground back in November, but they will need to better that result if they wish to make the final at Old Trafford.

Westley has a number of players struggling with knocks so is not expected to name his side until the last minute, but he does know he will be without key midfielder John Mousinho and defender Luke Foster as the duo are both suspended.

Accrington have been prolific at home this season, winning 15 games and scoring 53 goals during the season, which was bettered only by the champions Chesterfield (Stanley 18/1 to win the game 3-0).

Stevenage’s success has been built on organisation however, and they do not concede many goals on their travels. This means Stanley could have to throw everything and the kitchen sink at their visitors on Friday night (8/1 for 0-0) to get a result that would see them through to the final.

Shrewsbury Town (0) v Torquay United (2)

Shrewsbury only missed out on automatic promotion by one point and finished 11 points ahead of Torquay, so some might say they deserve to make the final.

The play-offs can be cruel, however, and goals from Chris Zebroski and Eunan O’Kane mean the Shrews have a mountain to climb in the second leg.

The hosts were unbeaten in five games before the first leg and will need a massive recovery, so they will look back to 2009 for inspiration when they overturned Bury’s lead in the second leg to make the play-off final (Shrewsbury Evens to win the game).

Shrewsbury (16/1 to win 3-0) could be without their captain Ian Sharps as he was forced off after 25 minutes of the first leg due to a thigh and groin problem. Graham Turner also faces being without right-back David Raven for the clash.

The statistics do not look good for the Shrews, as they have not beaten Torquay (13/5 to win the game, draw 5/2) in their last five meetings and have not scored more than once against them since 2002 – even then they lost 3-2 at their old home Gay Meadow.

Torquay have shown some excellent away form in recent months but cannot afford to rest on their laurels as the job is only half done. Play too defensive in the second leg and they could be punished but if Paul Buckle sends them out to play their usual game then they should have enough to book their place in the final.

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