Sheffield United: Former star Paul Devlin knows why his old pal is performing wonders at Bramall Lane

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's meeting between the two clubs, Devlin cited Wilder's combination of old fashioned values and new school thinking as a  factor behind United's success since being promoted back to the Championship.

"My old team mate has done an amazing job," Devlin, who played alongside Wilder at United and Notts County, said. "He's is like 'God' up there at the moment and rightly so.

"The way he has approached it, the way he has got them playing there and the team spirit, it's quite an old fashioned way he's done it.

"They have got some good players, they are a solid unit and they are a proper team."

Tale of the tape:

Devlin appeared 169 times for United during four years in South Yorkshire before returning to St Andrews in 2002.

Wilder, who guided United out of League One during his first season in charge, steered them to a 10th placed finish last term. They climbed to third after beating Aston Villa 4-1 earlier this month before slipping to fifth following last weekend's defeat by Bristol City.

"They have had a fantastic couple of years, they had an amazing result against Villa the other week and it could have been eight," Devlin told  BirminghamLive.

"They are coming off the back of a loss but Bramall Lane on a midweek night is a hard place to get a result."

*Devlin is taking part in the Great Birmingham Run to raise money for his daughter Annie, who is being treated for a rare adrenal gland disorder. To donate, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/sally-devlin-1