30th May Matt Kilgallon has urged his team-mates to avoid a repeat of last season's disastrous start to the campaign. The Blades slumped into the lower reaches of the Championship after poor performances in first half of the season, which prompted the departure of the unpopular Bryan Robson. Kilgallon commented: "I'm already thinking about next season. We must perform all year to be fighting for promotion. "At the beginning of the season everyone was struggling, although personally I knew I could perform at this level and I wasn't worried about comments from outsiders. "It was a slow start, but we picked up in the final few months and in the end we finished looking like a solid team."

24th May Nick Montgomery is determined to put his injury-hit campaign behind him and help the Blades achieve promotion next season. Montgomery missed the entire pre-season preparations last season due to a shoulder injury before being forced to undergo a double hernia operation and suffering a broken foot against Barnsley to top off a torrid campaign for the 26-year-old. He commented: "I have endured a disastrous time injury-wise. But I have managed to get through the bad times with the help of the lads and now I am confident of proving my worth. It has been a massively frustrating season, we had a really slow start after coming down from the Premier League and everybody became very edgy early on. We turned things around as time went on but the run just came a week too late really."

23rd May Michael Tonge admits United's drastic turnaround in form towards the end of this season was down to hard work. The Blades midfield man was one of several Blades players who came in for criticism while Bryan Robson was at the Lane, but now Tonge believes they have turned a corner. Tonge was on top form in the final few games of last season and hopes the team can build on their strong finish to the season and compete at the top of the table next term. Commenting he said: "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but all you can do is keep giving 100 per cent and hopefully things will change and I think that's what we have done." "I think everyone has taken the criticism on the chin and when the new manager came and got our heads down and worked really hard and I think that's been the key, everybody's worked really hard and we have got the results."

18th May Billy Sharp has paid tribute to the partnership he has forged with James Beattie since rejoining the club from Scunthorpe.

Sharp and Beattie scored 28 goals between them this season to fire the Blades to within four points of clinching a play-off place. The Blades forward is now hoping the duo can pick up where they left off next season as boss Kevin Blackwell bids to steer United back into the Premier League. "I have developed a brilliant partnership with 'Beatts', he has played his entire career at the top level and you can see that," said Sharp.

"He is a good character in the dressing room and his goals have been vital this season."

16th May Winger David Cotterill could be ready to commit himself to United's Championship promotion push next season. The Wigan player, who completed an impressive three-month loan spell last weekend, will hold talks about a permanent move with Blades manager Kevin Blackwell. Cotterill said: "We'll have to wait and see in the summer, but if the option is there I'd be interested for sure. "I hadn't been here two minutes and the old gaffer had gone, but Kevin Blackwell came in and told us as individuals and as a team what he expected of us. "The results he has achieved shows he is definitely capable of taking this club forward."

6th May Chairman Kevin McCabe is confident James Beattie will still be at the club next season. Beattie has had a superb first season at Bramall Lane following his move from Everton last summer, scoring 22 goals in the Championship. He has been linked with a return to the Premier League and Bolton, Portsmouth and Aston Villa are all reportedly interested. However, McCabe has warned the top flight clubs that it will be extremely difficult to prise Beattie away from his long-term deal. The 30-year-old striker recently stated that he was happy with the Blades and McCabe is desperate for him to stay. "We don't want to lose James and nor do we expect him to leave," McCabe told the Daily Express. "He's as happy as Larry here and it's great to have him. "Anyone who has spoken to James or has seen him play will tell you that. "James is subject to a long-term contract and that says everything. "I accept that what happens in football is not always down to the clubs any more, but we love having him, he has done exceptionally well and we will fight to keep him."

4th May Kevin Blackwell accepts that Sheffield United did not do enough this season to earn a play-off spot. The Blades had an outside chance of forcing their way into the top six going into their last game of the season against Southampton, but went down 3-2 at St Mary's Stadium. At one stage United were in pole position to reach the end of season shake-up, but were ultimately forced to accept a ninth place finish. Blackwell admits that it was disappointing to come so close and fail, but after a disastrous run of form earlier in the season it was a remarkable achievement for the Blades to be involved at all. "For a small period at 1-0 we were in the play-offs - and I wish the referee had blown up then," said Blackwell. "It was important that we gave it a go and we did. "Over 46 games you merit where you should be but credit to Southampton. It was an incredible atmosphere and pure theatre."

3rd May Southampton 3 Sheffield United 2 (Attendance: 31,957)

Blades Line-up: Kenny, Geary, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Halls, Cotterill (Gillespie 38), Speed, Tonge, Quinn, Hulse (Stead 63), Sharp (Shelton 56).
Subs Not Used: Bennett, Armstrong.

Booked: Speed, Shelton.

Scorers: Quinn 23, Stead 65.

Man of The Match: Gary Speed.

Southampton Line-up: Richard Wright, Jermaine Wright, Powell, Perry, Surman, Viafara, Safri, Idiakez (Licka 79), Euell, Saganowski (Lallana 73), John.
Subs Not Used: Davis, Wright-Phillips, Pericard.

Sent Off: John (80).

Booked: John.

Scorers: Saganowski 42, John 53, 69.

Referee: Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire).

United lost the chance of a play-off place when they went down 3-2 to Southampton in a pulsating game of football on the south coast. In front of a full house the Saints ensured they will be playing Championship football next season, as for the Blades, it was only an outside chance of the play-offs, but they gave it everything in the warm sunshine at St. Mary’s. Kevin Blackwell made several enforced changes to the side which beat Bristol City last weekend. Derek Geary returned to the starting line-up with John Halls moving to a centre-back position, and Rob Hulse was recalled in place of the injured James Beattie. Southampton had one change from the side which drew with West Brom last week with Darren Powell replacing Chris Lucketti - who had decided to opt out of facing the club he is currently still contracted to. It was a lively start to the proceedings with more than 3,000 Blades fans in the crowd. After a succession of throw-ins, the first chance went to the Blades after eight minutes, when corners by Michael Tonge and then Stephen Quinn were cleared, and Gary Speed saw his header deflected over the top and Geary headed for Hulse, but the Blades striker shot wide. Two minutes later and Billy Sharp’s header was easily covered by Southampton goalkeeper Richard Wright. A couple of crosses from Andrew Surman caused some problems in the United defence, and two corners from Inigo Idiakez gave the Saints more hope, roared on by their desperate fans. But disaster struck for the home side when United grabbed the lead after 24 minutes when Sharp curled in a deep cross from the right which the unmarked Quinn met with a firm header back across keeper Wright and into the net. Marek Saganowski twice came close to equalising, with a header which hit Matt Kilgallon and a point-blank drive blocked by goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. The Blades were only denied what could have been a second when Tonge's pinpoint left-wing corner picked out Kilgallon and his header from about six yards was superbly saved by Wright who made a reflex save to thwart the Blades. And seconds later, St Mary's erupted when the Saints broke quickly and Viafara's cross from the left was deflected to the far post where Saganowski came storming in to score with a diving header. The home side emerged after the break eager to get their second and six minutes into the second half Stern John sparked delirium in the stands amongst the home fans. John fed Saganowski and continued his run into the area, and the Polish striker lofted the ball over Kilgallon and Halls and back into his path. From about eight yards out John’s dispatched the ball past an unprotected Kenny into the top left of the net. But the Blades would not lie down started to force the nervy Saints back and Tonge’s header just cleared the crossbar. Sharp had worked hard and was replaced by Luton Shelton who brought pace to the Blades side. After 56 minutes, a superb tackle by Gary Naysmith on Saganowski surely prevented another goal for the Saints. United made another substitution when Hulse was replaced with Jon Stead after 62 minutes, and four minutes later the Blades striker hit United’s second to make it 2-2. Quinn played in a low centre from the left and Stead turned the ball in at the near post to stun the home faithful. But the equaliser did not last more than two minutes when John controlled and turned sharply 12 yards from goal to fire into the bottom left corner past the wrong-footed Kenny. There was more agony for the home fans when John was sent off after sliding in to tackle Geary. John had already been booked for removing his shirt after his first goal, and a second yellow meant Southampton were now down to 10 men. With five minutes remaining, Southampton were content to defend their precious lead, but United continued to torment the home fans by virtually camping in the Southampton half but, without worrying the goalkeeper to any extent. Still it was bedlam in the three minutes of added time until Adam Lallana broke for Southampton and won a corner and from that point the match was over. On the final whistle there was a massive pitch invasion from the Southampton supporters who could not contain the relief at avoiding relegation. Unitedites made the long journey home maybe wondering what would have happened if our new manager had been in place a few weeks earlier. Perhaps we would now be in the play-offs. But things do bode well for next season. And if United can keep their players and make a few additions, we will clearly be among the favourites for promotion next season.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Southampton:

Kenny 7, Geary 6, Kilgallon 7, Naysmith 8, Halls 6, Cotterill 6, Gillespie 6, Speed 8, Tonge 6, Quinn 7, Hulse 7, Stead 7, Sharp 7, Shelton 6.

3rd May Kevin Blackwell has been formally confirmed as Sheffield United manager on a permanent basis at a Saturday press conference at Bramall Lane. Blackwell succeeded former boss Bryan Robson in mid-February and took charge initially on a short-term deal until the end of the season. But Blackwell has galvanised the Blades and a run of two league defeats from 13 matches has hoisted them to within two points of securing a play-off place ahead of Sunday's final game of the season at struggling Southampton. Blackwell met with plc chairman Kevin McCabe in New York to discuss his future early this week and has now been handed a three-year-deal. "I'm very proud to take up this appointment," said Blackwell, who worked as assistant to former Blades boss Neil Warnock. "The club is very close to my heart and I'm delighted to be given the opportunity of delivering the ambitions of the chairman, the board and the wonderful fans of this club. "I believe we are a top-10 club in the making. With hard work, discipline, the will to succeed, determination, responsibility, commitment to excellence and pride we can get there." McCabe believes Blackwell is the right man to steer United back into the Barclays Premier League and expand the global brand of the club. "Kevin perfectly fits the bill as our manager," said McCabe. "We have reviewed and enjoyed long discussions about how our football division should operate.