Blades’ Westlake targets piece of history with his first Wembley trip

DARRYL WESTLAKE insists the chance to make history can propel Sheffield United to promotion.

The Blades have an unenviable record in the play-offs, with six previous attempts having all ended in failure.

An opportunity to end that tale of woe, however, will present itself next week when United will look to book a third trip to Wembley in five years and make up for the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion.

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The full-back, signed last summer from Walsall, said: “The target is to make history. I watched the play-off games last season and it was disappointing not to go up.

“But all the players here last year will have learned from that. They are itching to get up this time. We want to set the record straight. And get in the history books as the team that won in the play-offs.”

United’s play-off heartache was taken to a new level last May when they lost on penalties to Huddersfield Town in the League One final.

Westlake, recalled to the starting line-up for the midweek defeat at Crewe Alexandra, said: “I watched the final while on holiday in Ibiza. My season (at Walsall) was done but when there is football on the television then I always want to watch it.

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“If I could play this time then that would be great. We all want to get into the Championship, where there are better grounds to play at.

“Since I was young, I have watched the play-offs every year and thought, ‘I’d love to be part of that’. It would be amazing to win promotion at Wembley in front of all those fans.

“We now have a chance to do that. Hopefully, we can take it. I have never been to Wembley, not even as a fan.”

United seem destined to be at home first in the play-offs following the loss at Gresty Road. As to who Chris Morgan’s men will play, however, that is less clear going into tomorrow’s final day meeting with Preston North End at Bramall Lane.

Westlake added: “We are not bothered who we play. We can beat anyone in this league.”