'No negativity' as Blades bid to end poor record

SHEFFIELD United boss Chris Wilder has no time for the naysayers who point to the club's dismal play-off record ahead of tonight's clash at Bristol City.

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The Blades, who visit Ashton Gate in the first leg of their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final, have yet to win a play-off following nine previous attempts.

But unlike the pessimists among the Blades fans - after their club lost out to Leeds and Burnley in the race for automatic promotion - Wilder refused to dwell on past disappointments. He said: “There's negativity in football right the way through isn’t there? Whatever club you're at, so everybody has to deal with that.

“But there’s no negativity in this group. I've been consistent in how the players have been energised after the Burnley game and determined to win a play-off campaign.

“The proof is in the pudding on Thursday night in our approach, but there’s no change in our approach - we're going there to win. But we understand we're going to have to play very well... in front of a very passionate and vociferous home crowd.”