NEIL WARNOCK TAUNTS BLADES
You should be up already, says former United boss
NEIL WARNOCK has taunted his one-time side-kick Kevin Blackwell, claiming Sheffield United should have won promotion ALREADY.
Crystal Palace boss Warnock, who led the Blades into the Premier League in 2006, admits he is desperate for them to go up again.
United can overtake second-placed Birmingham if they win at Selhurst Park. And Warnock said: "I think they've had the best players for the last two years, let alone this season.
"Wolves have done fantastically in winning the title but in terms of the squad I don't see anyone better than Sheffield United."
Current Blades boss Blackwell has refused to indulge in mind games with his former mentor before the biggest game of his managerial career.
He has a fully fit squad and he is backing his players to hold their nerve and secure a return to the top flight.
He said: "It all comes down to bottle at this stage and my lads have plenty of that. Birmingham have slipped up in recent weeks while we have been outstanding.
Money
"A lot of my players have been here before and know what it takes in these situations. I'm confident we can get the positive result we need and then we have to see what happens with Birmingham at Reading. We are in the play-offs regardless and everything else is out of our hands.
"There's been a huge sense of injustice hanging over this club ever since our relegation and the Tevez affair that followed.
"That's all settled now and there's a lot of money on the way from West Ham but my understanding is it will be paid over five or six years.
"How much will be available for players hasn't been mentioned. We need to know which league we'll be in next season first."
Four years on from a car crash that almost claimed his life, Jamie Ward will complete a four-month rise from basement to big- time if the Blades go up.
And the Bramall Lane whizz-kid has set his sights on proving a point to David O'Leary. Ward was an Aston Villa trainee when he wrapped his car round a tree on the way to training. He recovered - only to be shown the door by then Villa boss O'Leary.
Budget
Ward, 23 later this month, has made his way back up via stints at Stockport, Torquay and Chesterfield. And he said: "One man's opinion hasn't stopped me doing what I wanted.
"He told me I could leave and I thought it was out of order. I'd been promised a contract by Villa but David O'Leary advised me not to sign it.
"Some would say he was looking out for me but realistically he was looking at his budget. Now I want to prove him wrong - and anyone else who has doubted me.
"I dislocated and fractured an elbow, broke my nose and had a severe gash to my knee. The ambulance crew said I was lucky to be alive.
"I've had to work my nuts off to get back up to this level. I've had to adjust to being mentally quicker in the Championship but I feel I've settled well. I have the confidence to believe I'll be a Premier League player."
Palace will have striker Victor Moses back today after a ban. But Warnock will again be without the injured quartet of captain Shaun Derry, winger Sean Scannell and midfielders John Oster and Paul Ifill. Defender Claude Davis is suspended.
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