Norwich City v Sheffield United: Chris Wilder insists 'it'll never be over until the last kick'

Saturday's 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion meant the Blades started the week eight points outside the Championship play-off places with only 10 games to play.

That gap can be made up with a run like that produced by Norwich City recently, winning nine of their last 12 matches in all competitions.

But even though they too have been much-improved since changing manager this season, the Blades have only once put more than two wins together. They also have plenty of teams to clamber over.

Manager Wilder, who return to the club to replace Ruben Selles in September, refuses to be defeatist about his team's chances, though.

“It'll never be over until the last kick of the ball at Derby County,” he insisted ahead of the game at Carrow Road. “It won't be, because of how we've always set up the team and the club – whether it's the first team, under-21s or under-18s, pre-season friendlies or whatever.

“We have to be competitive in everything that we do, and we'll go right the way through. That's our obligation to the supporters who travel home and away for us.

"Sometimes we don't get it right. On Saturday we were a little bit off it, which can happen.

“But we'll give it a right go.

"There’s still just under a quarter of the season to be played. If we were in the last three or four games, then I get it, but we're not. And we've had runs.

“Norwich City have had a run, I think, where they have won seven out of nine, or something like that. We can go on those runs, without a shadow of a doubt, with the group that we've got.

"When people talk about data and stuff like that, we've been really positive – creating a lot of chances, putting teams to bed pretty comfortably when we have done.

“We need to find all those qualities in the last 10 games of the season and see where it takes us.

"But we’re certainly never throwing the towel in. We can’t really hide away from our ambitions.

“It’s no good me not talking to the players about it when they're talking about it themselves. And what they're talking about is a big finish.

"I'm demanding a big finish, and now it’s onto the next game to see if we can go and win it.”

Norwich not swapping manager Liam Manning for Philippe Clement until November meant escaping relegation was always the best they could hope for this season, and with 45 points in the bag and an extra game to play on the Blades, they now look all but certain to do that.

"It's not as hostile as some grounds you go to, but still it's an established football club,” said Wilder. “It's been in the Premier League for a long time, then dropped out and then popped themselves back in.

"(They’ve) not dropped down to League One like we did, but similar history in terms of being a bit of a yo-yo team.

"Good facilities, good academy, always good players, well-run club and always a good place to go and play.”

The Blades will not be helped by star player Gustavo Hamer being suspended both at Norwich and at Birmingham City on Saturday after collecting 10 yellow cards this season.

“We've made it slightly harder for ourselves,” admitted Wilder. “I don't like missing good opportunities, and that's what it was on Saturday.

"We were in a good place so that was the frustration part of it. But there’s plenty of football to be played, plenty of points to be gained.

“And obviously we’re up against a team that's pretty much like us.

"Since the change of manager they have won a lot of games and been in good nick.

"But we can’t change history, we can only change what happens in front of us

“We understand we have two difficult away games coming up. We look at Norwich, we look at the run that they’ve been on and we look at the players that they've got. I should imagine that they'll be looking at us similarly, understanding the threats and the danger that we pose to them as well.

"Both teams don't set up to draw, don't set up to contain. Both teams will be looking to go and win the game of football.

"I imagine it will be a pretty open game and a pretty entertaining one at that.”

Midfielder Kalvin Phillips is now free from suspension but not a knee injury and his former Leeds United team-mate Patrick Bamford is a doubt after coming off at half-time at the weekend. Hamer's absence, though, will be the most keenly felt.

"The team has won games with Gus in the team and without it," stressed Wilder.

Everybody has to play their part, but we'll get round that. If you look at the opponents on Wednesday night, they've had some big injuries and some big misses for them, and they've managed to get round it."