The 2004-05 campaign for Sheffield United, the first season of the rebranded Championship, saw The Blades maintain their challenge under manager Neil Warnock, ultimately finishing a respectable 8th and just falling short of the play-off places. The goalscoring threat was spearheaded by the formidable partnership of Andy Gray, who was the club's top scorer with 18 goals overall (15 in the league), and Danny Webber. Despite their firepower, a costly run of inconsistent form late in the season proved decisive, preventing the side from clinching a coveted top-six spot and leaving fans with a sense of frustrated ambition.