30th April Sheffield United 1 Ipswich Town 1 (Attendance: 24,184)
Line-up: Kenny, Kozluk (Francis 90), Wright, Morgan, Page, Jagielka, McCall (Ndlovu 73), Tonge, Gray, Lester (McLeod 72), Allison.
Subs not used: Montgomery, Shaw.
Bookings: Lester 28, Wright 39, Morgan 86.
Scorer: Gray (pen) 64.

The Blades chances of a play-off spot have all but gone after a battling 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town at Bramall Lane. United now look likely to miss out on a top-six place and have to win their last game of the season at Preston to stand the remotest of chance's of reaching the play-offs. Neil Warnock went into the crucial match with the same team which beat Walsall the previous week. Tommy Miller returned to the starting line-up for Joe Royle's side. After 4 minutes, Robert Page headed Michael Tonge’s corner just over. A minute later Miller almost setup Dean Bowditch for Town. Ipswich had reason to claim a penalty on 16 minutes when Jermaine Wright’s 20 yard strike was deflected over by the outstretched arm of Chris Morgan, while at the other end Alan Wright ‘s free-kick brought a save low down from Ipswich goalkeeper Kelvin Davis. After 17 minutes Ipswich had another speculative chance when Wright’s shot was deflected over by Phil Jagielka. United hit straight back when Jack Lester almost weaved his way through the Town defence with central defender John McGreal making the final blocking challenge. United came close after 22 minutes; when from a Wright corner Page headed against the cross-bar. It had been a nervy half leaving fans wondering where a goal would come from. As the teams emerged for the second half Izale McLeod replaced Jack Lester up-front for the Blades. While for Ipswich Richard Naylor replaced Bowditch. Davis produced two brilliant saves in the matter of seconds to deny Jagielka and Page for United, although Page's header wouldn't have counted, McLeod was penalised for a foul. Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny did equally well to stop Naylor with a reaction save from close range, Ian Westlake sending the follow up header against the post on the hour. Two minutes later United went ahead, Tonge deceiving Dutch defender Fabian Wilnis into a challenge and Andy Gray sent Davis the wrong way from the penalty to give the Blades a precious lead. Naylor headed a Jim Magilton cross over the bar, then failed to get a shot in on goal as the Tractormen pushed forward looking for the equaliser. It came as the game entered the last 15 minutes, Westlake escaping Jagielka to fire through Kenny's legs. Thing were getting desperate now for the Blades who needed the win to stay firmly in the Play-Off picture and Gray fried over the bar, McLeod's pull-back evaded Wayne Allison and Tonge had a shot charged down before the Blades fans’ were on their feet, Jagielka's shot appeared to be heading for the top corner until the outstretched fingers of Davis pushed the ball onto the bar and away. Peter Ndlovu sent a 25 yard drive over the bar in United’s last, frantic attempt at goal but it could have been worse for the Blades if the referee had spotted Morgan's handball deep into injury time, the defender making contact as Darren Bent tried to get in on goal. The Blades players had given their all, but on the night it just wasn’t to be. It looks very unlikely now that the United will be in the Play-Offs although mathematically it is still possible.

29th April Neil Warnock is expected to name the same side that beat Walsall last weekend. Warnock used a diamond formation in the match at the Bescot Stadium. It remains to be seen whether he will use the same formation again for the visit of Ipswich. Jack Lester, Andy Gray and Wayne Allison are set to lead the attack again. Simon Francis has recovered from concussion and will be on the bench for the crucial match.

28th April Neil Warnock has called on Blades fans everywhere to play their part in Friday's play-off showdown with Ipswich Town. The Blades boss has labelled his side's last home match of the season as "our cup final". "It's not often you get to play a cup final at home," said Warnock. "We need everybody to turn out and give it their all for 90 minutes - players, coaches and supporters alike. "It's absolutely vital that we make the most of being at the Lane. "It's a huge occasion and everyone who has an interest should come along. I want the lads to have an amazing backing all the way through - remember those occasions”.

27th April Neil Warnock has not given up hope of signing defender Craig Short. Warnock, who has worked with the Blackburn centre-half has told Short he would be guaranteed a first-team place at Bramall Lane if he quits the Premiership outfit in the summer when his present contract runs out. Short has forced his way back into Graeme Souness' plans and has been offered a deal to keep him at Ewood Park for another season. "Craig knows what the score is, Blackburn want him to stay and that makes it unlikely that he'll be coming here. But I'm not going to rule him out. You can never say never in football and I'm not going to start now". said Warnock.

24th April Walsall 0 Sheffield United 1 (Attendance: 7,873)
Line-up: Kenny, Kozluk, Wright, Morgan, Page, Jagielka, McCall, Tonge (Shaw 71), Gray (McLeod 72), Lester (Rankine 86), Allison.
Subs not used: Montgomery, Forte.
Bookings: Morgan 45, McLeod 90.
Scorer: Lester (pen) 49.

The Blades boosted their play-off hopes with a crucial win at relegation haunted Walsall. It was a win the Blades deserved as they were the better team in a tension packed game. Nether of the sides were able to take control in the opening exchanges, midfielder Michael Tonge’s 20 yard strike went just over for United and striker Jermaine McSporran came close for the Saddlers. A long ball into the danger area by Walsall’s Kris Taylor on 16 minutes was headed away just in front of a lurking Paul Merson, whilst nine minutes later Walker had to scoop out a Jack Lester effort. Andy Gray came close for the Blades after 26 minutes; his header palmed away by Walsall goalkeeper James Walker after a probing cross by defender Rob Kozluk. The Blades playing a diamond formation and with the always impressive presence of ‘The Chief’ (Allsion) up front looked the more comfortable of the two sides. Walsall for all their whipped up excitable home support were largely ineffective in the final third of the field. With ten minutes to go until the interval, Walsall had a rare chance when the ball fell to right-back Darren Bazeley whose low shot was deflected just wide for a corner. As the half came to a close Chris Morgan was harshly booked for a crunching tackle on Matt Fryatt; sending the striker crashing into the home dug-out. With 4 minutes of the second half gone the Blades took the lead; Walsall defender Ian Roper lunged at Lester inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot for a clear-cut penalty. It was Lester himself who stepped up to dispatch the ball into the goalkeeper’s top left corner. The goal prompted Saddlers temporary Manager Paul Merson into a double substitution. Lee Bradbury was brought on in place of the ineffective McSporran and then ten minutes later Darren Wrack for Taylor. After 70 minutes, a quick free-kick picked out Fryatt in space in front of goal, but the striker’s effort was a good height for Blades goalkeeper Kenny who made a great save from point-blank range palming the ball over. Blades substitute Izale McLeod’s pace caused problems for Walsall when he fired over the crossbar after a surging run forward. With moments left, midfielder Neil Emblen launched himself at an in-swinging cross; his diving header causing a brief scare for the watching Blades fans’. But United thankfully held on for a well deserved victory which keeps them on track for a Play-Off spot. The Blades now face Ipswich next Friday in the biggest match of the season so far.

19th April Chris Morgan has deservedly won United's Player of the Year award. The Blades defender commented “I know I'm not the greatest player in the world but I think the fans appreciate that I give everything I've got. Seeing the names on the trophy makes you realise what a real honour it is.” He added "Several of us thought Kozzy would win and were asking him if he had got his speech ready, personally I think he has had a really good season." Jonathan Forte was named the Young Player of the Year.

17th April Sheffield United 0 Stoke City 1 (Attendance: 19,372)
Line-up: Kenny, Kozluk, Wright, Morgan, Page, Montgomery (Allison 65), McCall (Shaw 83), Ndlovu (Forte 65), Tonge, Gray, Lester.
Subs not used: McLeod, Jagielka.
Bookings: Ndlovu 52, Lester 62, Page 67.

The Blades hopes of a play-off spot are disappearing fast, Stoke's Clive Clarke delivering the blow that could keep United in the first division next season. The Blades produced another miserable performance as Stoke won for the first time at the Lane since 1985. Stoke showed the better touches in a scrappy game and almost took an early lead when Potters' striker Carl Asaba fired in from a tight angle, his low shot beating goalkeeper Paddy Kenny with the ball spinning wide of the far post. Blades striker Andy Gray put an early chance wide after breaking clear. Asaba nearly grabbed a goal on his return to Bramall lane, but fired wide after being set up by striker Gifton Noel-Williams. United sparked into life in the 26th minute, Jack Lester cleverly turning past defender's Wayne Thomas and John Halls before finishing with a low shot from 12 yards, the ball drifting a fraction wide of the far post. The Blades striker went close a minute later, this time steaming into to snap up a loose clearance, his volley from 15 yards flying over the bar. City midfielder Kris Commons almost broke the deadlock in the 28th minute weaving past defender Rob Kozluk, and with Asaba waiting in the area he drilled in a fierce strike from a tight angle, the ball fisted away from under the bar by Kenny. Clarke tried his luck with a long-range strike, the ball flying over the target after being given space to run from midfield. In the 35th minute, Stoke defender Wayne Thomas caught Lester with a elbow which completely flattened the Blades striker; a red card should have been the punishment for Thomas but the referee had clearly not seen the incident so the Potters' player escaped what should have been a sending off. With the first-half drawing to a close Stoke took the lead; Clarke strode forward from midfield and held off the challenge of Blades midfielder Nick Montgomery before beating Kenny with a fierce left-foot drive. After the break, Lester and Kozluk both shot off-target while Kenny denied Asaba and Robert Page almost turned a Commons cross into his own net. United squandered another opportunity in the 54th minute following a cross from Alan Wright. The left-back's centre was met by Chris Morgan, as the unmarked centre back burst into the area only to pull his header wide of the goal. Lester had the ball in the net twenty minutes from time, but the effort was ruled out for pushing - substitute Wayne Allison penalised for pushing defender Gerry Taggart as he climbed to flick on Kozluk's long throw. Moment later, a superb tackle from Taggart forced Allison to shoot wide from a good position. City's Noel-Williams missed a chance to seal it five minutes from time, and in the last minute Asaba had a shot blocked by Kozluk. So, now the Blades face a difficult few weeks. Realistically it means they need a minimum of 7 points to stand a chance of making the Play-offs

14th April Neil Warnock has urged his players to put all their efforts into one final push for a play-off place. The Blades ended a run of three straight defeats with a 2-1 victory over Wimbledon, resurrecting their hopes of promotion to the Premiership. The Blades bos said: "I told the players we've got so much to play for. There are so many other people having hiccups with bigger wage bills than ours, so let's put pressure on them."

12th April Sheffield United 2 Wimbledon 1 (Attendance: 19,391)
Line-up: Kenny, Kozluk, Wright, Morgan, Page, Montgomery, McCall, Francis (Ndlovu 87),Tonge, Gray, Lester.
Subs not used: Allison, McLeod, Forte, Shaw.
Booking: Morgan 54.
Scorer: Gray 50 67.

The Blades kick-started their play-off hopes after three successive defeats saw them tumble out of the top six. Striker Andy Gray struck twice in the second half after relegated Wimbledon had taken a shock lead from the penalty spot two minutes before half time. United, with three changes from the side beaten at Sunderland, carved out a half-chance early on, Rob Kozluk's free-kick finding Simon Francis. The defender finished with an overhead kick from ten yards but there was no power in the strike and Dons' goalkeeper Scott Bevan collected. Wimbledon hit back immediately with full-back Peter Hawkins picking out striker Wayne Gray, but with time to spare, tried a speculative shot from a tight angle and lashed the ball wide of the far post. United, patient in their build up, found a way through in the 23rd minute, right-back Kozluk picking out top-scorer Jack Lester but he produced a tame header from six yards, cut out by Bevan. Alan Wright almost broke the deadlock minutes later with a free-kick, driven low into the box, the ball smothered on the line by the Wimbledon keeper as he guarded his near post. Malvin Kamara was inches away after Gary Smith's corner was heading to him lurking on the edge of the area, the defender’s rising strike skimming the wrong side of the bar. Wimbledon snatched the lead in the 43rd minute, Kamara upended in the area by Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny after exchanging passes with Smith. Wayne Gray scored from the spot sending Kenny the wrong way as he tucked the ball in the right hand corner of the net. Neil Warnock must have delivered a rocket at the interval, because the Blades came out a different team in the second half, wave after wave of attacks ensued as United put the Dons' under intense pressure. Both Lester and Gray were looking good for the Blades; and it was only going to be a matter of time before the Blades got an equalising goal. The breakthrough came in the 50th minute, Gray rising to meet a Wright corner to glance his close-range header beyond Bevan. Moments later, Kozluk found Gray on the edge of the Wimbledon box, the striker turning to fire a in thunderous strike which hit the Dons' post. In the 58th minute United were awarded a penalty, after Lester was brought down by German midfielder Nico Herzig, but the Blades striker fired his spot-kick high and wide in to the Kop. The match was now being played in the Wimbledon half as the Blades went for that vital wining goal, and in the 68th minutes Gray grabbed his second and ultimately the winner, Wright's cross was headed down by defender Chris Morgan and the striker finished from close range. From this point there was no way back for Wimbledon. The Blades had proved their critics wrong and had battled well for a deserved victory. This win moves United up to 5th spot in Division One.

9th April Sunderland 3 Sheffield United 0 (Attendance: 27,472)
Line-up: Kenny, Francis, Kozluk, Morgan, Page (Sestanovich 61), Wright (Lester 66), Rankine, Jagielka, Tonge, Shaw, Gray (Allison 65).
Subs not used: Montgomery, McLeod.

The Blades lost out against the Black Cats for the third time this season this time losing 3-0 to Mick McCarthy’s men. Sunderland stretched their unbeaten run at the Stadium of Light to 19 matches with goals from Tommy Smith, Gary Breen and substitute Kevin Kyle. United have now taken just one point from their last four games and unless there is a dramatic improvement in results, are in danger of missing out on the play-offs. Sunderland went in front in the seventh minute and it was a goal of quality. Smith found Jason McAteer down the right flank; he skipped past Mark Rankine before crossing into the danger area where Smith who lost Robert Page to tuck it away from a near-post position. United's first shot came in the 20th minute when Paul Shaw turned Breen before firing a shot well over. Moment later, Page scooped a dangerous free-kick from Alan Wright over the bar, while at the other end the trickery of Smith almost led to a goal as his pass just needed the finishing touch in front of an open goal. United started the second half in the ascendancy, forcing Sunderland on to the back foot and Rankine should have done better after being teed up by Michael Tonge in the 49th minute. Sunderland’s Carl Robinson was denied by Paddy Kenny in the 51st minute. He went past three United defenders before the Blades keeper blocked his shot. A clever corner by Tonge caught out the Black Cats in the 58th minute. The Blades midfielder found Wright with a ball to the edge of the area and the ball was asking to be turned in but no one could connect. Sunderland boss McCarthy made a change in the 61st minute, swapping John Oster for striker Kyle. But with Neil Warnock waiting to make a double substitution, Sunderland went further ahead. Defender Breen was completely unmarked in open space and headed Thornton's corner into the roof of the net. Warnock threw on Wayne Allison and Jack Lester immediately after the goal in a bid to salvage something from the game but it was to no avail. In fact it nearly had the opposite effect when Thornton was close to adding a third after a surging run through the heart of the Blades back-four. Kyle tested Kenny with a snap-shot in the 75th minute. Sunderland were now in total control after going two in front with United chasing the game. A great piece of skill by Thornton sent Darren Williams clear down the right in the 88th minute and his cross was put behind as Kyle waited. Tonge who added another positive dimension to his game with some crunching tackles and had been United’s best player throughout a depressing afternoon; tested the unworked Myhre in stoppage time. Kyle however made certain of all three points when his left foot shot gave Kenny no chance in injury time. It had been a woeful performance from the Blades. Poor defending and lacking a commanding figure up front, United had failed to seriously trouble the Sunderland keeper all afternoon. The Blades desperately need to get back to winning ways when Wimbledon come to then Lane on Easter Monday - anything less than 3 points is unthinkable.

6th April Neil Warnock says the Blades still have realistic hopes of promotion despite the disappointing home defeat to Nottingham Forest. "We are still in the play-off hunt and I feel we are still as good as anyone else in there," he said. "Who would have thought Wigan would lose at home to Wimbledon, while West Ham also lost, so I think there are a few nerves, more than here at Bramall Lane."

3rd April Sheffield United 1 Nottingham Forest 2 (Attendance: 22,339)
Line-up: Kenny, Francis, Wright, Morgan, Jagielka, McCall (Allison 67), Montgomery (Shaw 90) , Tonge, Ndlovu (Sestanovich 67), Gray, Lester.
Subs not used: Kozluk, Rankine.
Booking: Tonge 90.
Scorer: Wright 59.

A goal by Nottingham Forest’s Gareth Taylor put a small dent in United’s promotion hopes as United went down 2-1 at the Lane. A vastly improved Forest side had taken a first-half lead through Marlon King, with Blades left-back Alan Wright hitting back with a deflected free-kick before the big Welshman struck. United almost found a way through in the 11th minute. Right-back Simon Francis lashed in a low cross from the right, the ball hitting Forest’s Andy Reid and slicing into the side netting with goalkeeper Paul Gerrard stranded. Winger Peter Ndlovu squandered a chance minutes later, rising to meet a Michael Tonge cross but finishing with a tame header scooped up by Gerrard. Striker Jack Lester weaved his way into the area, his low drive snatched on the line by the Forest keeper before United were sliced open in the 25th minute. After good run from Forest full-back Andy Impey; his shot deflected off Phil Jagielka into path of an unmarked King. He let the ball bounce up and smashed it past Paddy Kenny with his right foot from 15 yards out. Moments later, Francis was inches away from an equaliser with a glancing header after connecting with a Wright free-kick. French defender Mathieu Louis-Jean scooped the ball away for a corner with Lester waiting to pounce at the far post and Wright saw his free-kick deflected inches over the top. It was a good start to the second half for the Blades. Forest defender Wes Morgan was beaten and Lester was waiting to pounce on the far post, but Louis-Jean intercepted and made a tackle to clear the ball for a corner. Forest were put under continual pressure early on but Michael Dawson and Morgan were both excellent in defence for Joe Kinnear’s men, winning all the headers and clearing any danger posed by United. The Blades equalised after 59 minutes when Wright's free kick on edge of area took a wicked deflection and Gerrard had no chance as the ball went in as he dived to his right. Forest’s Morgan looked like he was going to put the visitors straight back into the lead when he headed the cross past Kenny but Tonge was there to clear his shot off the line. With 16 minutes remaining Forest got the winner; Winger Reid crossed to the back post and Taylor got up to the ball and headed towards goal. Tonge was on the line but couldn't keep the ball out as the striker’s header went off the top corner of the crossbar and down into the back of the net. The post denied Forest a third goal when Reid's shot from long range clattered against the base of the post and out for a goal kick with Kenny rooted to the spot. The Blades are still in 6th place in Division One after this defeat. A point or better at Sunderland next week and victory over Wimbledon on Easter Monday and things won’t look so bad after all.