Blades are prepared for play-offs, says Hill

As recently as Good Friday, the Blades looked a good bet to go one better than a year ago and clinch automatic promotion.

Those hopes, however, died courtesy of a run that has seen United win just one of their last seven games and the fight for a place in the top two will take place today well away from Bramall Lane.

Matt Hill admits that is a disappointment but, equally, he is at pains to stress that any suggestion of there being an air of deflation at the club are well wide of the mark.

Instead, the 32-year-old believes United are in decent shape and eagerly looking forward to the challenge of ending the club’s play-off hoodoo.

He said: “We were still chasing automatic this time last year and got pipped at the end. It was a sickener and a bigger disappointment than this season. It meant we had to regroup mentally in a short space of time.

“This time, we knew with two games to go that automatic was out of reach and that has given us time to prepare. It might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.”

United go into today’s meeting with Preston North End sitting sixth in the table, level on points with Swindon who have a vastly superior goal difference.

With Yeovil Town four points ahead of the duo in fourth and due to take on relegated Bury, both the Blades and Swindon seem destined to be at home in the first leg of the play-offs when they get under way on Friday and Saturday.

Hill, who moved to the Lane in March last year, added: “We are slightly disappointed to miss out (on the top two) because our goal was automatic promotion. That wasn’t to be but there another way to go up and that is through the play-offs.

“I don’t think there is any one reason why we didn’t make the top two. It is always a combination of things. You can’t just look at one game and think, ‘That was the turning point’.

“There have been a few games we should have won but only drew. A few where we were in the driving seat but unable to finish teams off.

“The bottom line is that, over the season, we have not done enough to be in the automatic promotion places. Credit is due to Bournemouth and whoever goes up with them.”

Today will be Chris Morgan’s fifth in temporary charge. So far, United have won and one draw to their name along with the recent defeats to Portsmouth and Crewe.

Hill said: “He (Morgan) has acquitted himself really well. The boys have the utmost respect for Chris Morgan. We were surprised when the gaffer left but Morgs has come in and asked for that bit more intensity.

“We showed that in his first couple of games but, unfortunately, as a team we let him down at Portsmouth.

“He knows we are an honest bunch of lads. He is a leader. He also has some good ideas and, hopefully, we can take them out on to the pitch.”