Wilson calling on Blades to live in the present

The Blades visit Stevenage tonight in the League One play-off semi-final first leg after losing their grip on an automatic ticket to the Championship.

Neighbours Sheffield Wednesday took second spot instead and celebrated with a civic reception on Wednesday in the centre of the Steel City.

To enjoy a party of their own, both Wilson and the Blades need to do something they have never done before – win promotion via the play-offs.

Wilson has endured disappointment four times in the past with both Bristol City and Swindon Town.

The Blades have been involved in five previous play-off campaigns without success.

“What do you want me to say? I can’t do anything about it. That’s history,” said Wilson yesterday.

“I have a 100 per cent record. It is s***. But your last defeat is as close as your next win.

“We have not gone through on five occasions but maybe the sixth time will be the lucky time? Let’s wait and see.”

Fate delivered a series of blows to the Blades’ promotion push during the last month of the season, especially in attack where three of the club’s five senior strikers were ruled out in different circumstances.

Welsh international Ched Evans was jailed for five years after being found guilty of rape, on-loan striker Will Hoskins had to undergo a hernia operation, and James Beattie is banned for the rest of the season after a red card last weekend.

“We have been quite unlucky with the strikers,” said Wilson. “But you can’t get your head down and feel sorry for yourself. That’s the root of all defeat.

“We still have very good players at the club. I don’t see any reason why we haven’t got the firepower that is needed.”

The Blades’ tally of 90 points would have guaranteed automatic promotion to the Championship in nine of the last 10 seasons. Tonight’s opponents Stevenage finished 17 points behind in sixth spot.

Despite the gap between the two clubs, Wilson has no complaints about the Football League’s play-off system which is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

“The play-off system is fair. We are all accustomed to it now,” he said. “We can’t be hypocritical and suggest it’s not fair because it is. If you don’t finish in the top two, you have to fight for the third place. That’s where we are now.

“Everyone tells me five times a day about this club’s play-off record,” he sighed. “If people want to fear going to Wembley that is their choice.

“From where we are, we are going to try and get there and we are going to enjoy it. We have a great belief that we will be promoted.

“If we didn’t go in with that type of attitude, we might as well stay at home now.”

As a play-off veteran, Wilson, 52, is more than equipped to tell his players about what lies ahead,

“I am not too sure if enjoy is the right word for managers – but they are very exciting for the fans and great games for the neutrals,” he said. “It is about who holds their nerve the best. And it doesn’t matter about previous results, you are going onto a level playing field now.

“It won’t be one-sided either way,” he added. “It will be nip and tuck with two teams going hell for leather to get to Wembley. There will be high emotions. It’s not about performance now, it’s about getting the result.”

The Blades have not won in three games since the incarceration of 35-goal leading striker Evans but Wilson says his players have to forget that sequence of results and look at the bigger picture.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the couple of results at the end of the season that we needed but the run we have been on in the last nine or 10 games has been very, very good,” he said.

“Stevenage had a fantastic season and to pip clubs like Carlisle and Notts County at the death for the sixth spot is brilliant. They will be buoyed by that.

“But we know how well we have played this season. They have a great team ethic and so do we. That’s why you end up in this situation at the end of the year.”

Stevenage, seeking a third consecutive promotion, are unbeaten in 14 games and beat the Blades in November before drawing 2-2 at Bramall Lane two weeks ago.

Now managed by Gary Smith, Stevenage are no longer the direct side they were under former manager Graham Westley.

They played some attractive football at Bramall Lane with former Arsenal youngster Luke Freeman outstanding in midfield.

“We saw Stevenage at the top of their game and we have to make sure we are up for that level and tempo again,” said Wilson. “I think it is an advantage to us that it’s quite fresh in our minds how well they played.

“We won’t be going there to sit back and wait for them to pummel us. We can’t play that way. We are not going there to just keep the score down or nick a lucky 1-0. We have to make sure the tie is alive or even put the tie to bed in the first leg. We never shirk the responsibility of trying to win a game.”

The second leg is on Monday at Bramall Lane and the aggregate winners will play either Huddersfield Town or Milton Keynes Dons at Wembley on May 26.

Midfielders Nick Montgomery and David McAllister have been added to the Blades’ squad but Wilson’s biggest selection poser surrounds the gap vacated by Beattie in attack.