Crewe Alexandra v Sheffield United: Blades in better shape for play-offs

The Blades, who travel to Crewe Alexandra tonight, are guaranteed a place in the end of season promotion deciders going into the final week of the regular season.

If Brentford fail to beat Doncaster Rovers on the final day, United can still finish third or fourth to ensure their semi-final second leg will be played at Bramall Lane. Recent history suggests that would be a major bonus with the Blades having reached the play-off final in 2003, 2009 and last year after playing the first leg away from home.

United lost in each of those finals, the sense of crushing disappointment being added to in the last two instances by defeat at Wembley coming after the club had been pipped to automatic promotion on the final day of the season.

A year ago, Sheffield Wednesday prevailed in the ultimate Steel City power struggle and Morgan believes the Blades knowing their fate going into the final two games means his players will be “mentally right”.

He said: “First and foremost, the difference this time is that we haven’t finished third (on the final day). In the previous two campaigns when I have been involved – the Burnley (Championship) final in 2009 and last year against Huddersfield – it was as part of a team who finished third.

“Whoever finishes third this season is in for a big disappointment. That is how it is for anyone who has been up there in top spot or second.

“Of course, it is up to the team that finishes third to remain strong. But how many times have we seen the third-placed team not go up?

“There is always a sense of disappointment when you miss out on automatic promotion. But we have possibly got longer to think about the play-offs now.

“(Second-placed) Doncaster and (third-placed) Brentford won’t be thinking about the play-offs going into their game this weekend. They will be going at it full tilt on Saturday.

“Whoever misses out of those two will then be massively disappointed. They will be gutted at missing out and then you have to get the players mentally right for three games.”

Asked to expand on why he feels United can finally prevail in the play-offs at the seventh attempt, Morgan added: “A few of our lads experienced the play-offs last year and, hopefully, that will help them.

“As a player, I did it twice and was obviously involved last year. The final is not a nice place to lose a game of football and that will be in a lot of our players’ heads.

“It would be great to go down there and for it to be us who wins. There is that hoodoo about Sheffield United and the play-offs but I think it is a totally different scenario this year. We will be in it, to win it.”

United can move up a couple of places to fourth in League One tonight with a victory at Gresty Road, providing it is by a two-goal or more winning margin. A draw, meanwhile, will leave Morgan’s side in fifth place – and two points behind Yeovil Town – going into the final weekend of the regular season.

Morgan said: “Of course, if I had the choice then I would want to have home advantage second.

“We have shown against Brentford and Swindon recently why we are confident of beating anyone at home.

“We have a good record on the road. But I think in big games like the play-offs, you want to go away first and then have the home advantage in the second leg. That is what we will be trying to do.

“We can potentially finish fourth, fifth or sixth and that is why we have to finish on a high. Two good performances will mean going into the play-offs with some confidence and self belief.”

United may go into tonight’s game smarting from the 3-0 defeat at rock-bottom Portsmouth that means automatic promotion is now out of reach.

But Crewe are hardly on top form themselves, with the club’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final triumph over Southend United on April 7 having been followed by four straight defeats.

Morgan added: “Crewe won the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and had a great day out at Wembley. But their results since then have not been particularly positive.

“Possibly, they are in that mindset of mid-table. What you know is they are a good footballing team that is full of energy. They are always at it and we find that any team playing us raises their game. That is why I say it will be a tough game.”

Tony McMahon is unlikely to be risked tonight due to an on-going Achilles problem that Morgan hopes can be eased with a week’s rest.

Asked if he planned to make many other changes from the team beaten at Fratton Park, the Blades manager said: “There won’t be multiple changes against Crewe. We do need to freshen up in certain areas but, equally, we have to finish the season strongly.

“The last thing I am going to do is go there and not take the game seriously. We have to finish on a high to set ourselves up for the play-offs.”

Last six games: Crewe Alexandra WWLLLL, Sheffield United DDLWDL.

Referee: O Langford (West Midlands).

Last time: Crewe Alexandra 1 Sheffield United 3; August 29, 2005; Championship.