Blackwell derides Owls 'success story' ahead of crucial Steel City encounter

Although the Owls inflicted a first league double over the Blades for 95 years, Blackwell says it paled into insignificance compared to the achievement of securing play-off qualification.

Ironically, the Blades – who lost in last season's play-off final to Burnley – will be seeking to record a second league double in four years over the Owls in Sunday's encounter after winning 3-2 in the derby at Bramall Lane in September.

"Last season, Sheffield Wednesday thought their season was a success because they beat us twice!" said Blackwell. "Not to me it isn't.

"Success to me is getting promoted or reaching the play-offs and I would have taken two derby defeats this season if it meant us winning promotion!

"If we were in the Premier League now, we wouldn't even be playing Sheffield Wednesday this season. We would be lauding it over them. So, in a perverse way, we would have lost two but have been lauding it over them."

Although the Blades are now out of play-off contention, they are guaranteed to finish above the Owls in the Championship table.

With three games to play, the Owls are one point adrift of safety in the relegation zone and battling to avoid the drop.

Blackwell said: "I only want what is best for Sheffield United but that doesn't mean I don't respect Shefffield Wednesday or their manager.

"At one point, they were dead and buried but they have shown the battling qualities needed to stay up. They are in with a big shout."

Blackwell has been using former Owls striker Richard Cresswell sparingly in recent games to ensure that he is available for the game at Hillsborough.

"The derby is a massive game and I took Richard off against Newcastle United because he had a tight hamstring. I told him we had an 'even bigger' game to come and couldn't afford to lose anyone. It's obviously a big game for him.

"Players have got pride to play for and we have to do it. They have shown all season that they are prepared. We know the consequences, possibly, that could ride on this game. That is incentive enough.

"Whether home or away, your decisions matter for half of the city. If you win 1-0, it doesn't matter how you do it. It's winning the game that counts."

The Blades are set to extend goalkeeper Steve Simonsen's loan from Stoke City.

He is scheduled to return to the Premier League club today but the Blades are hoping he will be allowed to feature on Sunday.

The former England Under-21 international joined the Bramall Lane club when Blackburn Rovers recalled Mark Bunn and he has conceded just five goals in six appearances, helping United to a win and three draws.

The Hillsborough memorial service at Anfield today, marking the 21st anniversary of the tragedy, is an all-ticket 10,000-seat event.

Liverpool have chosen to do this for safety reasons as about 30,000 people attended last year's event.

The annual service, which remembers the 96 fans killed in the disaster, starts at 2.45pm. No tickets will be available today.

Liverpool stadium and operations manager Ged Poynton said: "We want everyone who wishes to attend the service to be able to do so but in the safest possible environment."

Hillsborough Family Support Group chair Margaret Aspinall added: "Safety is our absolute priority at the memorial service and we fully support the new arrangements."

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge and Inspector Bernie Swift from Merseyside Police will deliver the readings.