Blades will keep going, Wilder promises relegation fighters
MANAGER Chris Wilder is adamant there will be no easing up by Sheffield United now that promotion has been won.
The Blades booked their place in next season’s Championship last weekend and need just four points from the remaining four games to seal the title.
Port Vale badly need points at the bottom end of the table and Wilder has promised the other sides in danger of the drop that his players will be giving everything today.
“We respect the competition and are going to go right the way through,” added the Blades chief. “We won’t be easing up, I can guarantee that.
“We will be playing until the final kick of the final minute of the final game. Seasons like this don’t come along all the time and we want to get the maximum amount of points that we can.
“Before last weekend, we hadn’t chatted about wanting to win the title as a group. But, now promotion has been won, it is the next target. It has to be.”
United’s 2-1 win at Northampton Town sparked wild celebrations among the club’s supporters that continued for most of this week. Now, though, is the time to get serious once again as Wilder’s men look to claim the title.
“Look at what the players were like on Saturday at Northampton,” he added.
“We knew Fleetwood were losing, which meant we were up even with a draw. Bolton were also behind.
“But the players were not willing to settle for that and pushed on to get what proved to be our late winner. That spoke volumes to me in terms of what this group is about. There is a real burning desire within them all. We want to kick on and end the season on a proper high.” CONSIDERING the rivalry between the two West Yorkshire neighbours, Nathaniel KnightPercival was always likely to receive a warm welcome at Bradford City after being part of the Histon team that famously humbled Leeds United in 2008.
Eight months on from his arrival, however, and the 30-yearold’s popularity among Bantams fans is down entirely to his performances on the pitch for the club.
Knight-Percival has been a model of consistency since joining on a free transfer from Shrewsbury Town, while his fortitude in playing recently despite requiring seven stitches in a head wound has also gone down well.
“I didn’t need to be asked twice when the chance came to join Bradford,” said KnightPercival, one of Stuart McCall’s first signings as manager last summer.
“It was a no-brainer, even if there was a bit of uncertainty in terms of who would be here.
“When a club like Bradford asks you to sign, you don’t say ‘no’. Everything is working out, too, and we are well placed in the league.”
City can take a big step towards the play-offs in an Easter double-header that includes Monday’s trip to promoted Sheffield United.
Providing that proves to be the case, Knight-Percival’s experience of big one-off ties could be crucial.
“I played in that FA Cup win for Histon over Leeds,” said the defender who also lifted the Football League Trophy in 2014 with Peterborough United.
“It was a tough game on a very wet day, but great to beat such a big team. The feeling at the final whistle is hard to describe.”