Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the first leg of the League One semi-final playoff clash between Sheffield United and Swindon Town.

The Blades are entering the League One playoffs for the third time in four seasons and will be determined to end their recent struggles in the format as the club lost to Huddersfield Town back in 2013 in the final.

Mark Cooper's men coming into the playoffs on a poor run of form as they have failed to win in their last five matches, but will be looking to get back to their best to earn promotion back to the Championship for the first time since 2000.

Nigel Clough's side come into the match on a similar run of poor form as they have also failed to record a victory in their last five matches. United are looking to return to the Championship for the first time since 2011 after a four-year spell in the third tier.

United will be looking to repeat the success they had earlier in the season in their run to the semi-finals of the League Cup. The Blades defeated West Ham United and the MK Dons to reach the last four of the competition where they held their own against Tottenham Hotspur before falling to a narrow aggregate defeat.

Swindon will be disappointed by their poor end to the regular campaign, but will be pleased to have a chance at earning promotion after narrowly missing out on the playoffs last season. Cooper's men were not able to have the same success in the cup competitions as the Blades this season as they exited the FA Cup in the first round and were defeated in the second round of the League Cup.

The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.

SHEFFIELD UNITED STARTING XI: Howard, Harris, Brayford, Flynn, Murphy, Coutts, McEveley, Davies, Freeman, Holt
Subs: Alcock, Doyle, Scougall, McNulty, Done, Turner, Adams

SWINDON STARTING XI: Foderingham, Stephens, Thompson, Turnbull, Byrne, Kasim, Luongo, Gladwin, Ricketts, Smith, Hylton
Subs: Belford, Barthram, Marshall, Rodgers, Swift, Williams, Obika

Louis Reed and Jose Baxter miss out for the home side due to a heel problem and illness respectively. Niall Flynn comes back into the starting lineup along with Steven Davies, Kieron Freeman, Paul Coutts, Jamie Murphy and Jason Holt from the side that drew 1-1 against Chesterfield on the final day.

Wes Foderingham returns in goal for Cooper's side after missing the final day clash against Leyton Orient. In total Swindon have made nine changes to their team as skipper Nathan Thomspon returns to the team along with Jermaine Hylton, John Swift and Ben Gladwin. Harry Toffolo misses the match due to a leg injury.

Clough has admitted that his side have to take the initiative to break their poor record in the playoffs, as the club have failed to earn promotion through the format in six attempts dating back to 1997.

He told reporters: "It is an incentive to be the one to break the hoodoo and the run. I don't like the phrase 'history-makers', because that's over-egging it. We have been going 125 years so there have been a lot of history makers. But if we can break this run that started in 1988 then let's be that team.

"This is a fresh start and we have as good a chance as anyone. Records only count if you allow them to.

"We have told the players that the last 46 games don't count for anything so previous seasons definitely don't. This is a three-game mini-cup season now – nothing else matters."

Cooper has revealed that he is bracing himself for the toughest challenge of his career in attempting to guide the Robins back to the Championship for the first time in 15 years.

"Now, for me, is big and probably the biggest test of my managerial career, in terms of trying to get to a playoff final. We know it's going to be tough but come Thursday we'll be ready," he told reporters.

"We're trying to be as organised and as prepared as we can. We concentrate on ourselves and do what we do well, and give the players the information they need on the opposition.

"We're really, really focusing on what we do well."

United will be without one of their top scorers this season in the match tonight as Baxter misses the game through illness, while Marc McNulty starts the game from the bench. Jamie Murphy will lead the line as he has mustered 12 strikes in the campaign.

Swindon will also start without their leading marksman this season as Andy Williams begins the match on the bench, despite notching 21 goals in the campaign. Michael Smith will lead the line tonight and he has 15 strikes to his name this season.

The last time these teams played each other back in January the Blades ran out 2-0 winners at Brammall Lane thanks to a brace from Murphy. While the reverse fixture in September yielded a 5-2 victory for the Robins as two goals from Smith along with strikes from Williams, Louis Thompson and Jonathan Obika handed Cooper's men an emphatic win at the County Ground.

The players are making their way out onto the pitch and we should be underway shortly.

Brief check on the home form of United this season and they rank eighth in League One this season as they have recorded victories in only 10 of their matches at Bramall Lane, losing six. Swindon boast one of the best away records in the division as they have won 11 games on the road this season.

KICKOFF! We're underway at Bramall Lane.

Weird vibe for a playoff semi-final as there are quite a few empty seats in the Lane. Hopefully for the home side that will just be a few late arrivals.

An opening for the home side as Turnbull dwells on the ball inside his own box and Flynn nips in to take the ball from him. The defender wants a foul but the referee is having none of it and Thompson is forced to clear the resulting cross behind for a corner.

From the resulting corner the visitors are able to clear their lines, but they cannot afford mistakes like the one from Turnbull to occur too often this evening.

CHANCE! Murphy collects the ball down the right and cuts back inside onto his left foot. The forward beats one challenge and then fired a left-footed strike at goal, which trickles past Foderingham's post.

Swindon's turn to raid upfield and threaten as Gladwin picks up the ball in space down the left and shakes off a challenge before surging towards the edge of the box. The winger strikes a left-footed effort across the face of goal, but his strike goes wide of the target.

The Blades win a free kick midway into the Swindon half, and Flynn stands over the ball to whip it into the box. His cross travels to Basham who tangles with a defender to guide an effort at goal. However, his attempt lacks pace and Foderingham gathers with ease.

PENALTY APPEAL! United have a strong appeal for a penalty turned down as Murphy raids into the box and tries to power a low ball across the face of goal, but Gladwin blocks the ball with his hand. The United players go up, but the referee claims that he had the ball by his side. A lucky escape for the Swindon man.

CHANCE! Basham finds himself in space down the left flank and he is allowed to cut the ball back to Harris on the edge of the box, but the left-back can only power his effort over the bar.

CHANCE! The Blades should be ahead as Harris strikes a low shot from 30 yards and Davies reacts to the ball to try to turn it goalwards. However, the striker misses his kick and the ball goes straight out for a goal kick. A glorious chance for the home side.

Clough's side have done all the early pressing and are well on top in this match, but they need a goal to make the pressure count.

Right on cue! United take the lead as Swindon failed to deal with their pressure down the right. Freeman and Flynn combine to allow the winger to have space in the final third and the defender continues his run into the box. Flynn hits a low ball in and finds the run of Freeman, who takes a touch and then strikes the ball on the half-volley through Foderingham.

The Robins almost hit back immediately as Smith gets the better of his man in the inside right channel and hits a low ball across the face of goal, but Hylton is not on the same page as his teammate as he fails to react to the cross. The goal was gaping there for the forward if he had reacted to the pass.

Clough's side continue to press the visitors high up the pitch and they are forcing Foderingham into some awkward moments as he tries to pass the ball out to his back four. The keeper has been up to the task so far, but it will be something to monitor over the course of the match.

Swindon earn a chance to get back into the match as Byrne is fouled by Harris as he attemps to raid down the right. A blatant trip and Gladwin has the chance to level from the spot.

SAVED! Gladwin's strike is saved by Howard as he dives to his right to parry the ball out. The danger isn't over as the winger tries to head the ball towards the net from the rebound, but the keeper goes up to claim the ball. An excellent save from Howard.

YELLOW CARD! Not the best few minutes of Harris as he goes into the book for a late challenge on Byrne. The second time the players have clashed in the last four minutes.

Another appeal for a penalty from the home side as Murphy collects the ball down the left and tries to break past Stephens, but touches his shoulder slightly to bring about his tumble to the ground. However, the referee is not convinced and points for a goal kick.

Foderingham does well for the visitors again as he races off his line to beat Holt to the ball over the top, and he uses good footwork to release the ball to Turnbull. Shades of Manuel Neuer from the Swindon keeper.

United continue to have success down the flanks as Flynn and Freeman combine again to allow the defender to whip a cross into the box. The ball sails over the head of Foderingham, but there is no player in a red and white shirt to react at the back post.

YELLOW CARD! Steven Davies goes into the book for United for kicking the ball away after being adjudged to have fouled Stephens.

CHANCE! Hylton uses his pace to burn past McEvelely and the defender does just enough to force the forward away from goal. However, an attempted clearance from Brayford goes only as far as Byrne who strikes a low effort towards goal, but Howard is there to make the block with his feet.

Good build-up play from the home side as Murphy works the ball across to the right wing to find Basham in all sorts of space. The midfielder has Freeman on the overlap down the right flank, but he opts to shoot himself and gets his effort all wrong as he fires the ball well over the bar.

A poor effort at the other end of the pitch as Byrne tees up Luongo on the edge of the area, who has several players to aim for in the box. However, he tries a shot and can only lift his strike well over the bar to the jeers of the home supporters behind the goal.

There will be three minutes of added time.

The Blades hold the lead at the break at Brammall Lane thanks to Keiron Freeman's strike in the 19th minute. The home team have been by far the better side in the first 45 minutes and deserve to be leading, even if they are grateful to a save from Mark Howard to deny Ben Gladwin from the penalty spot. Clough's team have been excellent in the wide areas, and with a bit more quality in the final third they could be further ahead.

Mark Cooper will be worried with what he has seen from his side in the first half. Bar the good surging runs of Nathan Byrne his side lack have lack ideas in the final third when they have managed to raid that far downfield. However, the Robins are still only 1-0 down and could have been level had Gladwin been able to score from the spot.

In the other League One semi-final match this evening Preston North End hold a 1-0 lead over Chesterfield at the Proact Stadium at the break. For commentary of that game, click here.

SUBSTITUTION: Stefan Scougall replaces John Brayford for the home side due to injury. Basham will drop into the back four for the Blades, leaving Scougall to play in midfield.

RESTART! We're back underway at Bramall Lane.

Swindon come close to getting a goal back as Turnbull lifts a cross in from the left which sails to the back post for the run of Smith. The striker tries to guide his header towards goal but it's just out of his reach to gain any power on the attempt, which goes behind for a goal kick. Better intent from the visitors.

Byrne continues to have success down the right and he raids to the edge of the box before cutting the ball back to Hylton. The forward takes a touch to drag it back onto his right foot, but his goalbound effort is deflected behind for a corner.

Swindon draw level as the corner from the right is whipped into a dangerous area by Byrne and Ricketts rises highest in the box to power a header into the top corner, leaving Howard with no chance.

The game is open now as both teams are flooding forward and United nearly hit back to retake the lead as Freeman collects the ball on the edge of the box, but his powerful strike goes just wide of the target.

Swindon are starting to find their rhythm in the final third as Smith and Hylton are beginning to find space and bringing their teammates into play. Confidence his building in the visiting players and a goal now could prove crucial in the match.

The visitors win another corner which is taken by Byrne and his cross to the near post finds Gladwin, but he can only head wide of the target. The momentum in the game has turned the way of Cooper's men.

The Blades hit back with a good opportunity of their own as Flynn finds space to get in behind the Swindon defence to cut the ball back for Holt, but his strike is deflected behind for a corner.

YELLOW CARD! Ricketts is the first Swindon player to be booked this evening for a foul on Flynn.

The resulting free kick comes to nothing from the home side, who have been knocked out of their passing game by the visitors. They've gone into their shells a bit in the second half and are mainly playing in the counterattack.

SUBSTITUTION: Gladwin's night comes to an end as he is replaced by Swift, who is on loan at Swindon from Chelsea.

CHANCE! Flynn weaves his way to the edge of the box and has the space to fire an effort at goal. However, he is off balance as he strikes the ball and his effort is easily claimed by Foderingham.

SUBSTITUTION: Done comes on for the home side to replace Holt.

Done chases down a lost cause as he tries to put Thompson under pressure and he wins the ball before rolling the ball past Foderingham. However, the whistle is blown long before he puts the ball into the net as the referee blows for the foul on the defender.

Referee Darren Bond is not a popular man in Brammall Lane as he stops an attack from the home side in its tracks to award a free kick to the Blades. Done was through down the left if the referee had played advantage, but he stopped play to book Kasim.

YELLOW CARD! Kasim goes into the book for his challenge on Davies.

CHANCES! Davies misses two efforts in the space of seconds as first his strike from the edge of the box is well saved by Foderingham as he beats away the left-footed piledriver. However, the home side recycle the ball out to the right where Flynn lifts a cross into the middle for the run of the striker, but he fails to make enough contact on the ball to find the net from two yards out as he glances it wide of the target. Huge moment in the game!

Slight delay in the game as Kasim goes down with an injury and is treated on the pitch.

Swindon come back to life in te dying stages of this game as Smith bundles his way past two defenders and into shooting distance inside the box, but Done gets back to do enough to put the striker off his shot, allowing Howard to gather.

CHANCE! Stephens picks the ball up the back and remains unchallenged as he storms his way into the penalty area before he finally decides to strike an effort at goal from a tight angle, but his shot hits the sidenetting.

SUBSTITUTION: Scougall does down with a hamstring injury and cannot continue so he will be replaced by Doyle.

Flynn whips a dangerous cross into the box from the right and Done tries to get on the end of it at the back post, but Stephens is there to head the ball behind for a corner.

There will be five minutes of added time.

Harris raids down the left for the home side and spots the run of Done at the near post. The defender fires a low ball towards his teammate, but Thompson gets in front of the winger to make the vital interception.

A huge goal out of nothing for the visitors to hand them the lead, which could be vital in the tie. Byrne picks up the ball down the right and has a shot to nothing from outside the box, which bounces awkwardly in front of Howard and skips over his outstretched hand into the bottom corner. Byrne has been Swindon's best player tonight and has scored a goal that could send them to Wembley.

SUBSTITUTION: Obika replaces Smith for the final moments of the match.

Swindon record a second-half comeback to defeat Sheffield United in the first leg of their semi-final playoff clash to take a huge advantage going into the match at the County Ground. Nathan Byrne's late strike could be very crucial in firing Mark Cooper's side to Wembley in their quest for promotion to the Championship, leaving the Blades to rue their missed opportunities in the second half, with Steven Davies especially guilty.

The two teams will meet again on Monday in the second leg with it all still to play for in their battle to reach the final at Wembley later this month. Thanks for joining our commentary, be sure to stick with Sports Mole for all the reaction, but from me it's goodbye.