But the Sheffield United manager is adamant that the achievement of tomorrow's opponents should have little bearing on the outcome of the South Yorkshire derby at Oakwell.

That, Blackwell insists, will be decided by the approach his own team adopt as they go in search of their fourth Championship victory in succession.

"I want us to play out own game," he said.

"We will show them the same respect we do to everyone else but we must concentrate on what we want to do.

"Barnsley have an excellent home record and so we're under no illusions. This will be a tough game.

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"It's got all the ingrediants of being a cracking match and I hope Barnsley have both eyes on the cup!

"But, seriously, we've got to focus on what we can do, how we can play and our strengths.

"I'm more bothered about that.

"We're going to be taking a good away following and we're not going to lay down and die.

"We're going to be positive."

According to players and backroom staff alike, Blackwell's enthusiasm has been one of the driving forces behind the club's climb up the Championship table in recent weeks.

A win over Barnsley would represent United's best return since September 2005 when United took maximum points from fixtures against Preston, Coventry, Crewe, Ipswich, Brighton and Watford as well as beating Boston in the League Cup.

David Cotterill, Rob Hulse and Billy Sharp hogged the limelight following last weekend's triumph over Norwich City at Bramall Lane, but Michael Tonge's return to form since Blackwell's arrival has also been marked.

The former England under-21 international is now showing glimpses of the form which, during the early years of his career, attracted admiring glances from Liverpool.

Should it continue, then Tonge could emerge as the creative tour de force United have been crying out for since Michael Brown's departure.
"Michael has been one of those who has really responded to what we are trying to do," Blackwell said.

"When he first came on to the scene he played out wide because we were blessed with the likes of Macca (Stuart McCall) and Browny in there.
"But I believe he can play anywhere across the middle.

"I've told him I don't want him playing square balls or backward balls unless he has to.

"I want him to go forward, and he's gliding past people like he did before.
"David Cotterill had a superb game against Norwich but the supply he got from Tongey was the key to how well he did."

TEAMS
Barnsley (probable): Steele, Foster, Souza, Nyatanga, Kozluk, Campbell-Ryce, Hassell, Howard, Devaney, Odejayi, Ferenczi (4-4-2).
BLADES (probable): Kenny, Naysmith, Morgan, Kilgallon, Geary, Carney, Tonge, Speed, Cotterill, Sharp, Hulse (4-4-2).

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