Blackwell's Blades ready to pounce in promotion race

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell insists his side are ready to punish any slips by their rivals in the race for promotion from the Championship.

Blackwell's team are now unbeaten in seven matches and only three points behind second placed Birmingham, who host Championship leaders Wolverhampton on Monday, thanks to a 2-0 win over Ipswich at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

The Blades, who have lost just two of their last 19 league matches, were the dominant force throughout.

Greg Halford fired United into a 19th-minute lead when his right-footed drive from 25 yards arrowed inside Richard Wright's left-hand post. United added a second goal eight minutes later as Kyle Naughton clipped in a cross and Darius Henderson powered his header beyond Wright.

"I thought in the first 45 minutes we were unplayable," Blackwell said. "All we can do is keep putting pressure on the top two. I've been saying for quite a while now that it would be disrespectful and unprofessional if we don't give it a go. "We're trying to catch them and put them under as much pressure as we can and if they trip up, hopefully we'll be able to take advantage of it."

Blackwell's fourth-placed team are level on points with third placed Reading, who were held to a 0-0 draw at Coventry and now have just four victories from their last 16 league games.

, April 5, 2009, AFP