26th May Kevin Blackwell will stay on as United manager after being told that the Blades will be 'competitive' in the transfer market. After holding talks with the Blades board, Blackwell has decided to give promotion another shot with chairman Kevin McCabe pleased they have persuaded the manager to stay on.
McCabe said: "Defeat in the play-offs is cruel but the fight goes on and, like me, Kevin is up for the challenge. "Kevin is motivated and is up for the task of getting the Blades promoted next season." He added: "Kevin has taken this club forward on the playing side from a difficult position in the league the season before last to the edge of the play-offs. This season we have finished third in the league and narrowly missed out on automatic promotion. "The club does lose its parachute payment for next season but we have built solid financial and off-the-field foundations at Bramall Lane which will enable us to compete." Our business model will enable us to invest not only at academy level, where we have seen young players like Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton evolve and come through to the first team, but also remain competitive in the transfer market

25th May Burnley 1 Sheffield United 0 (Attendance: 80,518)

Blades Line-up: Kenny, Walker, Morgan, Kilgallon, Naughton, Montgomery, Howard (Lupoli 82), Cotterill (Ward 58), Quinn (Hendrie 85), Halford, Beattie.
Subs Not Used: Bennett, Bromby.

Sent Off: Ward 80 (after his second bookable offence), Hendrie 90 (sent off after final whistle)

Booked: Ward 75, Lupoli 90.

Man of The Match: Kyle Naughton.

Burnley Line-up: Jensen, Duff, Carlisle, Caldwell, Kalvenes, Elliott, Alexander, McCann (Gudjonsson 27), Blake (Eagles 69), Thompson (Rodriguez 73), Paterson.
Subs Not Used: Penny, McDonald.

Booked: Carlisle 24, Kalvenes 90.

Scorer: Elliott 13.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Sheffield United’s Premiership dream ended in disappointment for at least one more season after a 1-0 defeat to Burnley in an exciting play-off final at Wembley Stadium. Kevin Blackwell stayed with the same team which beat Preston two weeks earlier. Darious Henderson and John-Joe O’Toole missed out through injury and Jamie Ward, who had been struggling with injury, just made the substitutes bench. As the teams emerged in glorious warm sunshine they were met with fireworks. The game kicked of with United kicking towards the Burnley fans. There was an early burst of pressure from the Blades, albeit with little end product, which was to be the story of United’s’ afternoon.
Kyle Walker received the ball from a throw-in on the edge of the box and his volley was comfortable for Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen. Brian Howard fired at Jensen after a free-kick but Burnley were handed the lead with their next attack. Blades full-back Naughton gave away possession high up the pitch and Wade Elliott was given too much space in front of the United back four. After a lay-off to Chris McCann and Matt Killgallon's block, the ball dropped nicely for Elliott to fire beyond goalkeeper Paddy Kenny into the top corner of the net.
Just after, United had a penalty claim was turned down despite Graham Alexander's tackle from behind on Howard. United could not get into their stride and despite plenty of possession they were not troubling the Burnley defence. McCann McCann succumbed to an innocuous knee injury midway through the half, replaced by Joey Gudjonsson. Martin Paterson was inches away with a curler after cutting in from the right n the half hour after David Cotterill had given away possession. And as half time approached United had another good appeal for a penalty for a foul on Howard by Alexander, this should have been a penalty, and it instantly became apparent that the pre-match fears about this referee where being proved correct. United continued to fire long range efforts which were no threat to Jensen in the Burnley goal. Montgomery's 20-yard shot was well wide and at the other end, Blake met Elliott's cross with a looping header which went just wide.
Neither manager made any changes at half-time; it appeared as though United had come out with real intention, but after an early flurry, Burnley ha a good chance in the 49th minute. Paterson's deep right wing cross found the head of fellow striker Thompson and his header back across goal was perfect for Gudjonsson who was about three yards out. His goal-bound poke inadvertently struck the back of the heel of Montgomery, and went just wide.
United were growing increasingly desperate and Ward replaced an ineffective Cotterill to try to liven up a strike force that was being superbly marshalled by the Burnley defence. Ward went to the left wing; although latter he was to take up a more central position. United were having more possession, but the chances were still going Burnley's way. After 65 minutes, Thompson beat the offside trap and crossed for Blake, who seemed a certain scorer from 10 yards until Walker made a magnificent intervention.
That was Blake's last meaningful contribution to the game, and he made way for Chris Eagles, soon to be followed soon by Thompson, replaced by Jay Rodriguez. There was big shout for a penalty when Walker was barged out of the way by Christian Kalvenes. The Norwegian defender clearly played the man and not the ball, barging the United full-back off the ball. Again the referee waived play on. Kilgallon was impeded as he attempted to get on the end of a one-two and then Ward broke the offside trap only to see his attempt from a tight angle blocked by Jensen’s legs. As United pushed forward looking for a way back, it opened spaces in the defence and they were nearly caught out again when Eagles set up Paterson, luckily Naughton was at hand and he tackled the Burnley striker. Disaster stuck on 77minutes, Ward who had already been booked for handball, was soon given his second yellow card for deliberate handball, trying to control a through ball on the edge of the six yard box. Despite two more substitutions, United could not conjure up anything to threaten the Clarets' lead. So it ultimately ended in disappointment, but we came so close. Next season we can take that on extra step and finally make our return back to the Premiership. We’ll all be back at the Lane in August, until then have a good summer.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Burnley: Kenny 6, Walker 7, Morgan 6, Kilgallon 6, Naughton 7, Montgomery 7, Howard 5, Lupoli 6, Cotterill 5, Ward 4, Quinn 5, Hendrie 5, Halford 6, Beattie 5.

11th May Sheffield United 1 Preston North End 0 (Attendance: 26,354)

Blades Line-up: Kenny, Naughton, Kilgallon, Morgan, Walker, Howard, Montgomery, Quinn, Halford (Bromby 82), Beattie, Cotterill.
Subs Not Used: Hendrie, Lupoli, Webber, Sharp.

Booked: Quinn 66, Cotterill 90.

Scorer: Halford 59.

Man of The Match: Nick Montgomery.

Preston Line-up: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St. Ledger, Nolan, Sedgwick (Mellor 72), McKenna, Nicholson (Carter 72), Wallace, Parkin, Brown (Elliott 62).
Subs Not Used: Neal, Chilvers.

Booked: Wallace 40, Parkin 44, Mawene 78.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

The Blades are still on course for a return back to the Premiership after a superb performance against fellow promotion chasers Preston at the Lane.
United manager Kevin Blackwell was forced into making two changes after losing strikers Darious Henderson and Jamie Ward to injuries sustained in the first leg at Deepdale. Their places were taken by David Cotterill and Craig Beattie in a 4-3-3 formation, whilst Danny Webber was on the bench.
Preston manager Alan Irvine had made two changes switching Chris Brown for Neil Mellor, creating a partnership with Jon ‘The Beast’ Parkin, and Barry Nicholson replaced Darren Carter in the centre of midfield in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

Alan Irvine would have drawn encouragement from opposite number Kevin Blackwell's line-up with Jamie Ward and Darius Henderson not featuring in the Blades' sixteen due to injury, David Cotterill and Craig Beattie started in a 4-3-3 formation with Ross Wallace playing just behind the front two.
Vociferous home support from the Lane faithful offered great hope to the Red and Whites Wizards, and the opening ten minutes were understandably tentative for a match of such magnitude, Brian Howard's shot in the third minute from twenty yards the only on target shot. United's main outlet was Kyle Naughton, the youngster looping in a couple of dangerous crosses which were either caught or palmed away  by Andy Lonergan in the visitor’s goal.
The Lilywhites’ had to withstand numerous spells of pressure, none more so than on the quarter hour mark when Barry Nicholson and Eddie Nolan had to throw themselves to the floor to block shots from Beattie and Howard as United camped in the Preston half.
In the face of an exceptionally loud Bramall Lane crowd, the visitors found it hard to establish themselves but on eighteen minutes, Brown knockdown released Nicholson and the Scot unleashed a low hit from twenty five yards which went wide.

The Blades continued to pepper Lonergan's goal, and Greg Halford's effort on the twenty five minute mark was particularly dangerous, going wide and over after good work from Kyle Walker. Then, Preston’s Chris Sedgwick fired a right-footed half volley which had Kenny at full stretch but it went over. A dangerous ball to Lonergan's back stick looked destined for Beattie but Youl Mawene leaped between the keeper and the striker and flicked it away for a corner.

Just before half-time a couple of tasty challenges involving Wallace, Chris Morgan and Parkin riling both sets of supporters. Wallace received a booking for a lunging slide on Morgan, but the main talking point was when Parkin and Halford collided just inside the Blades half in font of the dugouts.  Parkin pleaded his innocence but was booked for his high challenge.
Just before the break, Cottrell delivered a dangerous ball to Halford at the back post, but he could not divert the ball into the Preston net.
Neither manager made any substitutions during the half-time interval but Blackwell would have been wondering how Beattie managed to miss from the edge of the 18 yard box, after neat interplay between the former and Halford, his shot going inches wide of Lonergan's left post.

The Preston goal was now under ever increasing pressure as the Blades started pushed forward boosted by ear-splitting support from the Shoreham Kop, and it took an amazing save from Lonergan to deny Beattie again. Nick Montgomery's deep cross was met well by the Scot but the visiting keeper outstretched hand stopped him.

But the pressure was too much for Preston come the fifty-ninth minute, Walker supplying a pinpoint cross, Halford rose and nodded into Lonergan's far corner to send the Lane faithful into delirious celebrations
North End responded well though with Parkin when brought down a long Mawene free kick and forcing Kenny into a sprawling save which but for the interception of Walker would have fell to Wallace in front of goal.  Beattie really should have put the tie to bed moments later. The Lane striker found himself in the clear on the left and despite being held up he still managed to get a shot away which was cleared off the line by Sean St Ledger.
A set-piece saw Preston have their best chance to equalise, a Wallace in-swinger was not cleared by the Blades defence and with the goal beckoning Jones shot from eight yards but Brian Howard was at hand to thwart the visitors. Howard and Alan Quinn combined well on the left flank but Lonergan parried the Blades midfielder's shot away. With United constantly on the attack, the counter attack was where PNE were looking to succeed, and both Preston substitutes Stephen Elliott and Neil Mellor combined but a challenge from Walker prevented the former Liverpool striker from capitalising on his cross.
Towards the end, Preston tried to throw everything at United but the Blades defence stood strong. On the final whistle their were cheers of jubilation, and the Lane faithful on the Shoreham Kop left the ground singing ‘we're going to Wembley, que sera, sera’...

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Preston: Kenny 6, Kilgallon 7, Morgan 7, Bromby 6, Walker 7, Naughton 7, Montgomery 8, Quinn 6, Howard 7, Cotterill 7, Halford 7, Beattie 6.

8th May Preston North End 1 Sheffield United 1 (Attendance: 19,840)

Blades Line-up: Kenny, Walker, Morgan, Kilgallon, Naughton, Montgomery, Howard, Stephen Quinn, Halford, Henderson (Beattie 54), Ward (Lupoli 74).
Subs Not Used: Bennett, Cotterill, Bromby.

Booked: Kilgallon, Montgomery, Lupoli.

Scorer: Howard 46.

Man of The Match: Brian Howard.

Preston Line-up: Lonergan, Jones, Mawene, St. Ledger, Nolan, Sedgwick, McKenna, Carter (Nicholson 70), Wallace, Parkin, Mellor (Brown 77).
Subs Not Used: Neal, Chilvers, Elliott.

Booked: Carter.

Scorer: St. Ledger 21.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands).

Brian Howard was on target as United grabbed a 1-1 draw at Preston in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final. The Blades midfielder struck in clinical fashion just seconds into the second half to cancel out Sean St Ledger's 21st-minute opener. A fast and furious encounter produced few genuine goalscoring opportunities but United would have won had substitute Craig Beattie not spurned two golden opportunities in the second half.

Monday's decisive second leg at the Lane will not be for the faint-hearted but Kevin Blackwell's men more than matched their opponents physically and dominated the second period at Deepdale. The Blades threatened in the fifth minute when Darius Henderson crossed low from the left flank. The ball reached Jamie Ward and he produced a delightful piece of skill to engineer the space to strike a low left-foot shot at Andy Lonergan. The Preston goalkeeper made the first of several fine saves and the hosts threatened moments later when Neil Mellor fired a fierce shot goalwards but Howard threw himself in front of the ball to avert the danger. Deepdale erupted in the 21st minute when St Ledger grabbed his sixth goal of the season. The Lillywhites centre-back rifled home from close range following a deep free-kick from Billy Jones. He was stood in an offside position when the ball came to him but it had been headed into his path by Blades midfielder Nick Montgomery so the goal rightly stood. Yet Kevin Blackwell's men fashioned an encouraging response and almost drew level in the 28th minute when Stephen Quinn slipped in behind the Preston defence and forced a fine save from Lonergan at his near post. The Blades continued to probe but almost fell further behind in the 35th minute when Jon Parkin headed against a post from Ross Wallace's corner. However, the equaliser came within seconds of the restart after Lonergan smothered a shot from Henderson. The ball was swiftly recycled by Ward and his right-wing cross was powerfully dispatched by Howard's fine volley from 10 yards. United appeared to lose Henderson to injury in the 55th minute but replacement Beattie wasted a golden opportunity to make his mark with a shot over the crossbar. Three players were booked within the space of 10 second-half minutes as tensions mounted but Preston were grateful to Lonergan again with five minutes remaining when he parried Howard's long piledriver before Lonergan denied Beattie from close range.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Preston: Kenny 6, Walker 7, Morgan 7, Kilgallon 7, Naughton 7, Montgomery 7, Howard 8, Quinn 6, Halford 6, Henderson 6, Beattie 6, Ward 7, Lupoli 6.

3rd May Crystal Palace 0 Sheffield United 0 (Attendance: 22,824)

Blades Line-up: Kenny, Walker, Kilgallon, Morgan, Naughton, Halford, Montgomery, Stephen Quinn (Webber 89), Cotterill, Henderson (Beattie 74), Ward (Lupoli 74).

Subs Not Used: Hendrie, O'Toole.

Man of The Match: Chris Morgan.

Crystal Palace Line-up: Speroni, Lawrence, McCarthy, Jose Fonte, Hill, Ertl, Danns (Scowcroft 90), Carle, Moses (Rui Fonte 55), Kuqi, Stokes (Hills 72).
Subs Not Used: Clyne, Cadogan.

Booked: Lawrence, Ertl.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).

United’s hopes of gaining automatic promotion ended on the day of the regular season after a 0-0 against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The blades had fantastic support with 7000 cheering on their every touch. United went into the match with an unchanged side. It was not until the 11th minute that the first chance was created as the Blades almost took advantage of an excellent counter attacking move started by goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. The Blades keeper threw the ball to David Cotterill on the right wing, and he ran it down the flank before looking up and picking out Darius Henderson, who had made a run into the Palace box.
Kyle Naughton had a 35 yard strike seen harmlessly wide by palace goalkeeper Julián Speroni before the home side created their first chance on 20 minutes, when Neil Danns was not closed down on the edge of the box and struck a screwed volley just wide.
As news circulated of Birmingham City's opener at the Madejski Stadium, United had their best chance of the half. A corner was launched deep into the Palace box for Chris Morgan, who managed to climb highest and head the ball through the crowded box and force Speroni into an excellent reaction save. Cotterill had a chance late on when he finished off a jinking run with a good hit across Speroni, but it flew wide.
The first chance of the second half went to the Eagles after 48 minutes had elapsed. Shefki Kuqi managed to jump higher than his marker and flick the ball on for Victor Moses. The Palace forward ran through on goal but, under pressure from United full-back Kyle Walker, shot tamely at Kenny.

But it was Danns who came closest for Palace with two guilt-edged chances. On 58 he was fed through into the box by a neat little pass from Carle and, with only the keeper to beat, Danns pulled his shot wide. Two minutes later he found the ball at his feet again inside the box but his shot was saved comfortably by Kenny. The show was stolen however by Speroni in the Palace goal, as he made a series of excellent saves to deny Kevin Blackwell's men.
Just after the hour mark the ball was played into the box and Jamie Ward did very well to chest it down to take it past his markers and, six yards, out got his shot away. But the Palace shot stopper was quickly off of his line to close down the angle and saved brilliantly with his legs. And then the Argentinean goalkeeper acrobatically managed to tip a Darius Henderson looping header over the bar. 
As news kept on filtering through from the Madjeski, United made changes to their front line with Craig Beattie replacing Henderson. But despite the fresh attacking options to the United’s front line, Palace continued to defend resolutely and kept the Blades chances to a premium.

After 73 minutes, Arturo Lupoli replaced Ward. A minute hater the Italian striker aimed a snap shot at Speroni, while Morgan came closest with a header that hit the outside of the left hand post in the 92nd. The referee blew up soon after to confirm United's place in the Play-offs against Preston North End.

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Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Palace: Kenny 6, Walker 7, Kilgallon 7, Morgan 7, Naughton 7, Halford 6, Montgomery 6, Quinn 6, Cotterill 7, Henderson 6, Beattie 6, Ward, Lupoli 6.