Such has been the revival under Kevin Blackwell that a league position seen as precarious when Bryan Robson was sacked in mid-February has been transformed.

A seventh win in nine games – achieved despite being reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of captain Chris Morgan in first-half stoppage time – was enough to power the Blades up to eighth in the table.

Crystal Palace's win at Watford may mean the late-season surge in form has come just too late to earn a place in the top six, Neil Warnock's men being five points ahead of his former club with just two games remaining.

But there can be little doubt that pride has been restored to a club who, back in August, were expected to be among the front-runners for automatic promotion.

And while supporters may spend the summer wondering what would have happened had the Blades board acted earlier in sacking Robson, they will also be able to look forward to next season with renewed confidence.

Central to that will surely be the offer of a new contract to Blackwell whose initial deal runs out in the summer.

He said: "The agreement with Kevin (McCabe, Blades plc chairman) when I came here was that I would see it through to the end of the season.

"I never once asked about money, never once asked about the length of contract. There are two games to go until the end of the season. I have stuck by my side of the bargain because I do believe a contract should be honoured. We will see what happens at the end of that."

Asked whether being linked with a couple of Championship jobs last week had been a distraction, Blackwell replied: "No, it hasn't affected me in any way, shape or form. I am employed by Sheffield United to do a job and I am very happy to be here."

The manner of the Blades performance against a Hull City side who arrived at Bramall Lane as the Championship's form team can only add weight to Blackwell's hopes of remaining in charge.

Making light of Morgan's dismissal for two bookable offences, United ran out comfortable winners with Michael Tonge being dominant in midfield and James Beattie working tirelessly to unsettle the visitors defence.

The return to form of their top scorer has undoubtedly played a major part in the Blades' revival, his second-half penalty against Hull meaning the former Southampton striker has scored in the last five games.

Beattie, who switched to a wider role in the second half as part of the reshuffle that followed Morgan's sending off, also helped create the opening goal on 51 minutes with it being his header back across goal that Billy Sharp diverted back for Stephen Quinn to volley in spectacular fashion past Boaz Myhill.

That and the Beattie penalty which followed David Livermore's foul on Sharp ensured that it would be a miserable day for Hull, who before kick-off had occupied the second automatic promotion place.

After an even first half that ended with Morgan's dismissal for a tug on Fraizer Campbell's shirt as he raced on to a long ball from Michael Turner, City had been expected to come out after the break and make their numerical advantage pay.

It was United, however, who seized the initiative to keep alive hopes of forcing their way into the top six to leave Blackwell delighted at the final whistle.

He said: "At half-time, we said 'OK, we are down to 10 men but it is absolutely no problem'.

"We came up with a system and told everyone they had to work to it.

"We have that belief. When I first came here, I was having to shout my mouth off (during games). But now, I don't have to do that so much."

On the race for the play-offs, Blackwell added: "It is frustrating that the season is coming to an end.

"But we possibly might only need these two games. Hull play Palace at home next weekend, while we could do them a favour by beating Bristol City.

"This time next week, we could be sitting two points off the play-offs with a game to go. I am not going to give it up at all."


Player Focus

Sheff Utd

Kenny 6

Halls 7

Morgan 5

Kilgallon 7

Naysmith 7

Cotterill* 7

Tonge 7

Speed 7

Quinn 7

Beattie 8

Sharp** 7



Substitutes

Ehiogu* (46)7

Hulse**(76 )6



Not used

Stead

Gillespie

Martin


Hull City

Myhill 7

Ricketts 6

Turner 6

Livermore*** 6

Dawson** 6

Fagan* 5

Ashbee 6

Marney 6

Hughes 6

Folan 6

Campbell 6



Substitutes

Pedersen* (55) 6

Windass** (64) 6

France*** (74) 6



Not used

Duke

Walton