Premier League-bound Sheffield United finish the season in style with 2-1 win at Birmingham City

Oli McBurnie fired the Premier League-bound Blades ahead in the 53rd minute when he headed home his 13th goal of the season before James McAtee tapped the ball into an empty net a few minutes later to double the lead.

Dion Sanderson pulled one back for Blues late on but in the end it was a deserved victory for Heckingbottom’s men who will follow champions Burnley back up to the big time.

Heckingbottom said: “I’m delighted the game was good and I’m pleased we won. It’s important to talk about how well everyone’s done all season, 28 wins, 91 points.

“I spoke to them (the players) before the game and usually we’ll talk about the opposition, but I just wanted to thank them for this season, thank them for the last 18 months.

“For the majority of us our journey started last November, and it’s taken us this long to achieve what we wanted.

“There’s been some moments from a footballing point of view when I’m on the sidelines I couldn’t be prouder, they’ll know what I mean. We’ve played well but also with a presence that has sacred teams to death and that’s been really pleasing.”

The Blades took the lead eight minutes into the second half as Chris Basham found a pocket of space on the right wing and dinked a cross into an unmarked McBurnie to glance his header home.

McAtee doubled the lead only four minutes later.

Jack Robinson curled a magnificent long ball in behind Birmingham’s defence to Iliman Ndiaye and he unselfishly squared it across to McAtee who tapped it home. Birmingham halved the deficit with 11 minutes left when Manchester United loanee Hannibal Mejbri sent a long free-kick into the box where fellow substitute Marc Roberts headed the ball down for Sanderson to volley home.

Blues boss John Eustace said: “I think it’s been an excellent season.

"It’s been very good. We were made favourites for relegation at the start of the season so to get 53 points, the highest number of points in six years, is good.

“There’s lots to build on of course there is but there’s been some fantastic memories throughout the season.”

Before the game, Birmingham released a statement confirming details of a takeover which will see Tom Wagner’s group assume ownership of the club and stadium.

The statement read: “Birmingham City will remain under the control of the current Board until the relevant Owners and Directors Tests (OADT) have been approved.”