BLADES CUT IT

Wilder's United in the driving seat after sending-off clips Robins' wings

- BY MIKE WALTERS

AFTER puffs of white smoke above the Vatican, Rob Dickie's cardinal sin cost Bristol City dear.

Dickie’s second red card of the season against Sheffield United, for hauling down Wales striker Kieffer Moore in first-half added time, handed the Blades the keys to Wembley.

From the moment Harrison Burrows buried the resulting spot-kick, United seized their chance to enjoy the comfort zone, a rare luxury on the tightrope torture of football's £200million lottery.

Play-off semi-finals can often be as cagey as Whipsnade Zoo, but there were few inhibitions about the Blades’ convincing display in this prizefight at Ashton Gate.

Only the third team to reach 90 points in the Championship without going up automatically, Chris Wilder's men were never going to come quietly.