Source: Team_Talk
TT's Hot Topic: Race for 2nd place
The dogfight to stay in the Premier League is hogging the headlines as usual - but there's an even fiercer battle that will finally be resolved this weekend, and I'm hoping it's Sheffield United who join Wolves at England's top table by pipping Birmingham to the second automatic promotion slot on Sunday.[LNB]Even the most optimistic Blades fans must have settled for a target of reaching the Championship play-offs after seeing the club sell star striker James Beattie to Stoke in January's transfer window.[LNB]But Kevin Blackwell used the £3.5million transfer fee received from the Potters to lure Brian Howard and Jamie Ward to Bramall Lane on permanent deals, while also recruiting Artur Lupoli, Craig Beattie and Watford pair Leigh Bromby and John-Joe O'Toole on loan.[LNB]All six new boys have proved shrewd additions to the playing squad, while Beattie's depature allowed Darius Henderson and David Cotterill to emerge from his shadow, with them both netting crucial goals in a sizzling run of form which has seen United emerge as the red-hot team heading into this weekend's dramatic finale.[LNB]Blackwell's men have timed their rich vein of form even better than Hull City did last season and will head to Selhurst Park on Sunday full of confidence after winning six of their last eight league games.[LNB]They've won 10 times on their travels so far this season - a record only bettered by runaway champions Wolves - and will fancy their chances of collecting all three points in South-East London, where Palace manager Neil Warnock will welcome his former charges with open arms having left the Blades on amicable terms following their relegation from the top tier.[LNB]'Tevezgate' still rankles with Warnock and United, who were shunted back down to the Championship following West Ham's Carlos-Tevez inspired Great Escape from relegation two seasons ago.[LNB]And I wonder if Warnock's pre-match teamtalk will involve asking his Eagles stars what their summer holiday plans are, as they have little to play for due to their mid-table placing.[LNB]The reason the Blades are within touching distance of automatic promotion is down to a major loss of bottle by Birmingham.[LNB]Alex McLeish had arguably the best squad and the biggest budget heading into the 2008/09 season, but since the turn of the New Year they have had little to cheer, winning just seven of 19 league games.[LNB]Home draws with strugglers Plymouth and Norwich have proved costly, and they also failed to pocket maximum points from clashes with rockbottom Charlton and lowly Barnsley on the road.[LNB]McLeish is a naturally cautious manager and that is evident in the fact Blues have only scored three goals in just four league games this season, despite having the likes of Kevin Phillips, Marcus Bent, Cameron Jerome, James McFadden and Gary O'Connor to call upon over the campaign.[LNB]The Midlanders must now head to the Madejski Stadium on Sunday for a rip-roaring rumble with fourth-placed Reading, who know they could snatch second place if they secure a 13th home win of the season and the Blades fail to storm the Palace.[LNB]Blues will be missing the experience of Lee Bowyer after he saw red in the 2-1 St Andrew's defeat by Preston which has put them in such a tight spot.[LNB]And I reckon both the Royals and Blades will be victorious on Sunday, setting up two tasty reunions with the Hammers for United next season - and leaving Steve Coppell to lock horns with a devastated McLeish in the play-offs.[LNB][LNB]
