Gary Speed's double cancelled out Michael McIndoe's opener from the penalty spot to leave the Blades just two points behind sixth-placed Crystal Palace with one game to play.

They travel to Southampton next weekend heavily relying on other results to go in their favour, but Blackwell was quick to salute his side for hauling themselves back into contention.

"I can't thank or praise the players enough – they were fantastic," he said.

"I did say to the players on transfer deadline day that I wouldn't bring in anyone else because I didn't think there was anybody out there who were as good as what we had got already at the club.

"But I did say I might have to ask players to do jobs outside their remit. And three or four of them played out of their remit and did a fantastic job.

"They deserve all the credit because there's no doubt if this had been the first half of the season then we'd have been clear by about 12 points.

"We go into the last game of the season with all to play for. Eight weeks ago we were four points off of relegation so I can't praise the players enough for what they've done.

"If we're being honest no one would have given us a sniff of being anywhere near the play-offs, particularly on the last day of the season. We're the people that everyone is looking over their shoulders at."

Blackwell, who is only contracted to the Bramall Lane club until the end of the season, was remaining tight-lipped over his own future, but did reveal he was set to have talks with chairman Kevin McCabe this weekend.

He added: "I'll be speaking to Kevin over the weekend. We've got a meeting that has always been arranged and I'm sure we'll have a chat about it.

"There's a lot of things to talk about. This is a progressive club and there's a lot of things we need to get in place. I'm sure there's a whole remit of things we'll talk about over the weekend."

The Blades suffered a major setback after just three minutes when top-scorer James Beattie limped off with what looked like a hamstring injury to be replaced by Rob Hulse.

This seemed to knock United out of their stride and handed the impetus to the away side who broke the deadlock when McIndoe scored from the spot.

United's response was as impressive as it was swift as they pulled themselves level just four minutes later. Michael Tonge arrowed a corner into the middle of the area and Speed was on hand to thump an unstoppable header into the bottom corner.

And United took the lead after 54 minutes when McIndoe was adjudged to have handled in the area and Speed showed immaculate composure to rifle the ball into the corner.

City pressured for the equaliser but United held on for victory.

Sheffield United: Kenny; Halls, Kilgallon, Ehiogu (Martin 25), Naysmith; Cotterill, Speed, Tonge, Quinn; Sharp, Beattie (Hulse 3) (Geary 46). Unused substitutes: Stead, Gillespie.

Bristol City: Basso; Orr, McCombe, Carey, McAllister; Noble, Elliott (Showunmi 76), Carle, McIndoe; Trundle, Adebola. Unused substitutes: Weale, Fontaine, Skuse, Sproule.

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Blades man of the match: Gary Speed.