Warnock issues rallying cry to Blades

The Sheffield United manager, Neil Warnock, has urged his team to grasp a once-in-a-lifetime chance at the start of a weekend which could see them promoted to the Premiership.

The Blades will go up if they beat Cardiff at Ninian Park tonight and Watford and Leeds fail to beat Wolves and Reading respectively. United had seemed to be coasting to promotion before a poor run of form saw their lead over Leeds reduced to three points with their Yorkshire rivals seemingly poised to leapfrog the Blades.

However, an upturn in fortune, culminating in an injury-time win over Hull last weekend, plus wobbles by both Leeds and Watford sees the Blades enter the Easter programme nine points ahead of their rivals with just four games to play.

Warnock said: "We've got to grasp this opportunity. You don't get opportunities like this twice in a lifetime. We've got four games to grasp this opportunity. We've got to go with the attitude to win and then we've got to get something out of the game."

The Blades manager is set to name an unchanged side for the fourth straight game with Paddy Kenny to continue in goal despite sustaining a blow to the head in the defeat of Hull.

Opponents Cardiff have little to play for except pride after a poor run of form which has undermined their play-off chances.