Promotion race will go right down to wire again

NEILL Collins knows all about a League One promotion race going down to the wire from his time at Leeds United.

So, when the Scot says experience could prove the decisive factor in the fight to get out of the third tier this season then it is worth taking note.

Collins netted the winner at Huddersfield on Tuesday night to ensure the Blades reclaimed second place from Steel City rivals Wednesday, who on a night when the top six all faced each other, lost at home to Stevenage.

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United now enjoy a two-point lead over the Owls with Huddersfield a further point behind in fourth, but the trio of Yorkshire clubs remain firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion.

For Collins, the scenario has many similarities with 2010 when he was part of the Leeds side that eventually claimed runners-up spot in League One after holding off the challenge of several clubs.

The Blades defender said: “I know it sounds boring but the win (at the Galpharm) was just three points. We are in a good position but so are Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday and MK Dons.

“There are 17 games to go and a lot of football to play. I have an aim in my head of two points a game and we are at that target right now. We have good momentum and if we can keep it going then we will be in a good position.”

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United’s standing is strengthened by the club having two games in hand on third-placed Wednesday and one on Huddersfield.

However, Collins added: “It is a nice position but to look at the table right now is premature. There is a lot that can still happen. It is why I don’t understand anyone who says Charlton will run away with it.

“I have been here before and nothing is done and dusted until you have that medal round your neck.

“Huddersfield will go away from our game with a lot of positives in their mind. Wednesday will not curl up and die after losing to Stevenage, either. I am sure they will come back stronger.

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“If anything, they will be rejuvenated. All we could do was win and we did that.”

When at Leeds, Collins got his hands on a runners-up medal after they survived a late season wobble before clinching promotion on the final day with a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers.

He added: “By the time I got there, that Leeds team didn’t have much momentum. It was slightly different, too, in that they were not as experienced as we are.

“Experience can sometimes be over-estimated but it can be good to have on your side. I have been involved in a couple of promotions and Leeds didn’t have that experience and that made it hard at times.

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“It went right to the wire with Leeds and there is a fair chance that will happen again. All we can do is focus on ourselves.

“The positive for us is our manager and us having a lot of players with calm heads.”

Collins’s fifth-minute strike at Huddersfield was his first goal of the season and the defender said: “That goal was a long time coming but I did say to the boys that my first would be a big one when it came.

“I usually get more goals but, hopefully, I can get a few more. The goal came straight off the training field so credit to the manager for that.”

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Collins added: “Huddersfield bombarded us with long balls and throw-ins but, in general play, I felt we were excellent.

“It was a great performance at a tough place. They might think they could have scored off a couple of set-pieces but, on another night, we could have scored maybe three or four.

“The game was like a Championship fixture with a big crowd and great atmosphere.

“Putting on a good show was brilliant, as was getting the three points.”

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It was not just Collins’s goal that had manager Danny Wilson purring, but the whole team performance as United made it 10 wins in 12 to climb above city rivals Wednesday into second spot.

He said: “It was a real team effort, as it had to be.

“We defended well from the front, as we have done all season.

“We didn’t panic at the end, we made good contact with the ball, which shows to me that we were calm and in control of the situation.”

On the match itself, Wilson added: “We have seen everything in the game.

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“The atmosphere was red-hot, goalkeeping performances were top drawer, there was great football, a lot of goalmouth action. – all that you want from a game.

“And, from our point of view, it’s a fantastic three points.”

Opposite number Lee Clark said before yesterday’s shock sacking: “It does give them (the Blades) a little bit of edge but there will be plenty more twists. I am certainly not writing off the top two places, there is so much time to go and I am sure that Danny (Wilson) with his experience will know that as well.

“We are disappointed with the outcome, but we are certainly not disappointed with the performance. We played on the front foot at a high tempo and created a lot of chances. It just wasn’t to be, but we didn’t deserve to lose the game.”