Clark is driven by automatic ambition for family

Clark has led Town into the League One play-offs for the last two seasons but his involvement has subsequently cut short his family holidays.

Town moved third in the table after an impressive 3-0 victory at Sheffield United on Tuesday night and, although it is still early days, Clark is desperate to keep his wife happy this time around.

“The top of the table situation doesn’t matter to me now, all that interests me is the table in May,” he said.

“My wife keeps reminding me that she wants a proper holiday next summer and she doesn’t want to be hanging around for play-off finals.

“ She wants it done and dusted, top two, so that we can spend a proper family holiday together.

“So that’s my incentive, that’s what keeps driving me,” he quipped.

Victory over the Blades extended Town’s club record unbeaten league run to 33 games and Clark described the performance as the best of the season.

“We looked very strong, we looked a good threat all night, and we scored goals,” he said. “The work ethic from the strikers was followed by the rest of the team.”

Town’s start to the season has allayed any fears of a possible hangover caused by last season’s defeat in the play-off final to Peterborough United.

But Clark said: “Even at the start of the season – when we were not picking up the continuous wins that everybody thought we would and had a couple of draws – I knew we were building up and getting there.

“The players were showing that they were not prepared to lose or give up games. They showed they had the (right) mentality.”

Town’s former Blades goalkeeper Ian Bennett enjoyed a winning first return to Bramall Lane and produced a number of fine saves.

The veteran goalkeeper, who was freed by the Blades two summers ago, has been given an extended run in the Town side due to the absence through injury of Alex Smithies.

Clark said: “I knew what I was bringing to the football club. I have known Ian a long time since we played youth football at Newcastle.

“He is not only a fantastic guy in the dressing room but someone who could challenge Alex Smithies. He’s had a long-term injury and Ian has been outstanding.”

Blades manager Danny Wilson, meanwhile, believes his side’s first defeat of the season will serve as a ‘reality check’ to his players.

The Blades dropped to second as a result of Town’s 3-0 victory – with Charlton Athletic moving top courtesy of goal difference.

“It’s the first setback we have had in eight games,” said Wilson. “It won’t always go swimmingly and you don’t ‘need’ something like this. But when it does come along it is a reality check. You go back to doing the things that got you to the top of the league in the first place. Keeping that compact unit at the back will win games.”

As a manager with many years experience of life in League One, Wilson was always aware of the scale of the challenge that lay ahead for the Blades this season.

“It’s not a wake-up call for me,” he stressed. “I know exactly what it’s like but people (new) in this league get a mis-representation.

“There are some tough teams in this league and there will be quite a few competing for those top six places at the end of the season. We feel we will be part of that although we can’t concede easy goals like we have done here.”

Wilson acknowledged that Town were the best side to face the Blades so far this season, saying: “You don’t have a 33-game unbeaten streak by luck. We had not come up against a team with as much quality throughout the park and on the bench.”

Defender Marcus Williams made his debut for the Blades against Town after signing a one-month loan deal from Reading.

Wilson, who dismissed reports linking the Blades with a move for former Norwich City midfielder Mark Fotheringham, moved for Williams in the absence through suspension of left-back Lecsinel Jean-Francois.

“We had no one else at the club apart from young lads who were not ready,” he said.

“He has got to be a good acquisition. He has got pace and he can get forward and create things.”