Chris Wilder says George Baldock with Sheff Utd ‘all the way’ in promotion bid

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder says former player George Baldock is “with us all the way” after his side booked their place in the Championship play-off final.

There were emotional scenes at Bramall Lane on Monday night during the record-breaking play-off semi-final demolition of Bristol City as the Blades remembered Baldock, who died in October aged 31.

Goals from Kieffer Moore, Gus Hamer and Callum O’Hare added to last Thursday’s 3-0 first-leg win to earn the biggest winning margin in second-tier play-off history.

Fans sang Baldock’s name throughout the match, after which the players did a lap of honour holding a Greece flag with their former team-mate’s nickname and squad number on it.

“He’s with us all the way,” Wilder said. “His shirt’s up in every changing room, home and away.

“We reference him all the time, and we should do because of his career, his journey.

“His journey before us, his journey with us, was amazing, and obviously the tragic situation that we had to deal with, let alone what his family’s had to deal with is incredible.

“So, he’s with us, and he would have enjoyed that performance.

“He was a winner, and he wanted to prove himself. Wanted to be part of the team. He’s a great example to all our players.”

Baldock played 219 times in seven years before being released at the end of last season.

A Greece international through his grandmother, the right-back joined Greek Super League team Panathinaikos last summer, but tragically drowned in a swimming pool in October.

The Blades would love to win promotion for Baldock and have a chance to finally end their play-off hoodoo at the 10th attempt, with nine previous play-off campaigns – including three Championship finals – having ended in defeat.

And Moore believes his side have laid down a marker with their record-breaking semi-final victory.

“We are buzzing and looking forward to Wembley,” he said. “I feel we have shown what we can do over the last two games and if we can bring that again and more, we have a very good chance.

“Everyone in this group is really working hard towards promotion. The job is not done. We knew what we had to do, we have played well over two games but the next one is the one that matters.”