Sheffield United 1 Chesterfield 1: Blades get set to face Swindon in bid to reach Wembley

Almost a fortnight after guaranteeing a place in the play-offs, both Sheffield United and Chesterfield are finally free to concentrate on trying to finish the job of winning promotion from League One.

Following yesterday’s entertaining draw, United will host Swindon Town in Thursday’s semi-final first leg while the Spireites prepare to do battle with Preston North End on the same night at the Proact Stadium.

Just how the two clubs will fare across two legs is hard to gauge, especially after a final-day clash that saw Nigel Clough’s men look the better side before half-time and lead through a stunning finish from Marc McNulty, but then fall away after the break.

This allowed Chesterfield to assume control and, after Ian Evatt had netted his first goal of the season, Paul Cook’s men were unfortunate not to claim a victory that would have been enough to leapfrog their hosts in the table.

Now, the two managers are already plotting a potential rematch at Wembley in the final.

“I told Cooky in the tunnel, ‘Let’s meet again at Wembley in three weeks’ time’,” said Clough, whose side must travel to Swindon’s County Ground on Monday for the return leg.

“We did want to finish fifth. The way other results have gone, if we’d have lost then we’d have been facing Preston North End.

“To be fair, though, I don’t think you can pick and choose. I don’t think there’s a major difference.

“The big thing is we know who we have now. It is unusual going into a last day when you can get one of three teams, so it is nice to be settled.

“I did think it would be Swindon. We didn’t want to lose, that’s for sure. But there isn’t a preference either way.

“Preston, you probably know what you are getting a bit more. Swindon are a bit more unpredictable. But we have to be believe we can make the final.”

Not since the 2006-07 season has a Football League season ended with so little at stake on the final weekend for Yorkshire’s clubs due to all the county’s relegation and promotion issues having been settled. That was, of course, the year the Blades slipped out of the top flight at the end of a Premier League campaign that finished a week after the rest of the country.

Few at Bramall Lane on that sorry and soggy May afternoon as Wigan Athletic confirmed relegation for Neil Warnock’s side could surely have believed that by 2015 their beloved club would have been in League One for four years.

This, though, is where United are at right now and it is the task of the current crop and manager Clough to seal a Championship return on May 24.

To realise that dream, the Yorkshire side will need finishing of the kind displayed by Marc McNulty in yesterday’s first half.

Collecting a mis-hit shot from John Brayford courtesy of a sublime touch, the Blades striker unleashed a ferocious shot from the edge of the area that Tommy Lee barely saw never mind looked like saving in the Spireites’ goal.

It was McNulty’s 13th goal of the season, taking him level with Jose Baxter at the top of the Bramall Lane scoring charts, and none can have been as sweetly struck.

What United will have to do to prosper in the play-offs, though, is a better job of defending a lead.

Before the opener, Tommy Lee had twice been required to pull off fine saves to keep out Scougall and McNulty.

Once the second half got under way, however, it was the visitors who seized the initiative in devastating fashion.

A fine run and cross from Daniel Jones created the opening for Ian Evatt to power in a bullet header just six minutes after the restart. United then needed Mark Howard to come to the rescue and beat away Jay O’Shea’s shot after he had been released by Gary Roberts.

Sam Clucas also went close with a shot after turning sharply, the Blades being relieved to see the ball bobble just wide with Dan Gardner unable to apply the final touch.

Jay McEveley had to be alert 16 minutes from time to block Clucas’s shot after initially allowing the striker to get behind him to latch on to a wonderfully flighted ball from Gboly Ariyibi.

Roberts dragged a shot wide as Chesterfield pushed for a winner that would have been enough to leapfrog the Blades, who survived thanks to Arnand Gnanduillet failing to latch on to a weak McEveley back header and Clucas wasting a stoppage-time chance.

It meant, come the final whistle, that United were heading for a double-header against Swindon and the start of a mini-season that Clough hopes will culminate in victory at Wembley.

“We have a good idea of what the team will be come Thursday,” said the Blades’ chief. “That is why we made a few changes, it was a deliberate tactic.

“Most were legitimate injuries. (Chris) Basham was out with his knee and (Paul) Coutts had a hamstring. They are not serious but we didn’t want either involved.

“The only one who was rested outright was Jamie Murphy and if anyone deserves a rest at this stage of the season then it’s him.

“We didn’t know if Paul would so the same and rest a couple, but he didn’t and you saw the difference at times in them having a full-strength side out there and you also saw what a good side they are.

“I told the players ‘well done on your efforts this season’. We are fifth, that is not a bad finish. All that matters now is the next three games.”