Run-in games bigger for Blades than the cup semi-finals, says Chris Wilder

The Blades can move seven points clear at the top of the League One table tonight with victory at home to Millwall.

Defeat of the London club would also extend United’s advantage over third-placed Fleetwood Town to 13 points in the race for automatic promotion.

As a lifelong fan before being appointed manager last summer, Wilder knows better than most how desperate the club are to book a return to the Championship after a six-year absence.

Which is why the 49-year-old sees this term’s push for promotion as key to a club who a decade ago were plying their trade in the Premier League.

“We have had some big games in recent years,” said Wilder, who welcomes Daniel Lafferty back from international duty. “There were the cup games under Nigel Clough (when United reached the semi-finals of the FA and League Cups), particularly the Tottenham night game and the two against Charlton and Forest. It was absolutely bouncing.

“But I believe these are bigger games for the football club. Those were one-off games, with nothing to lose.

“And, without being too dramatic, some will say the biggest since the 2009 (Championship) play-off final or Wigan (in 2007 when United were relegated from the Premier League on the final day).

“But I would put these on a par with those.”

Many managers in Wilder’s position might be tempted to downplay the importance of the run-in, hiding behind the ‘next game is all that matters’ mantra so beloved of others.

“To his credit, the Blades’ manager is determined to remain honest.

“The fact is they are not just other games now,” he added. “We have set it up for them to be big games. Go and enjoy them now. The players, to their credit, have done that. So, I have no qualms with saying where we are now at. Hopefully, we embrace it and get what we want from it.”

Wilder is closing in on a notable double after leading Northampton Town to the League Two title last season.

A second championship with a different club would be a remarkable achievement, but he added: “We are grounded, we are humble people and we know if you take things for granted then the game has that ability to hurt you.”