Blades to go full Monty in Nick of time

The pain Montgomery felt when he took to the field on the final day of the season was nothing compared to the agony he experienced when the final whistle called time not only on the game but also United's membership of the Premier League.

But the combative midfielder believes United are perfectly equipped to survive their latest date with destiny - Saturday's Championship fixture with West Brom - and avoid completing an unwanted hat-trick of league matches under Bryan Robson's stewardship without a win.

Montgomery's mettle and slavish devotion to the cause are, according to Robson, exactly the type of qualities United will require to ensure their relationship with English football's second tier proves nothing more than a brief flirtation.

But Montgomery, serving under only the second manager of his professional career, has repaid the compliment by highlighting Robson's reputation as another important reason why United should be destined to succeed.

"I've got no doubt that having him (Robson) here will really help," Montgomery said.

"If you look at the players we've been able to bring in, people like James Beattie and Lee Hendrie, then you know there's going to be a lot of other people who would have liked them in their squad.

"But he (Robson) is so well respected in the game that lads like that obviously want to come here and play for him."

Despite being ranked among the pre-season favourites for promotion, United have endured a chequered start to the new campaign with their only victory so far coming against Chesterfield in the Carling Cup.

Montgomery and the rest of the first team squad travel to MK Dons in the second round on Tuesday as they look to reach the latter stages of the competition.

However, with a first league win of the Robson reign proving elusive, United would gladly swap the possibility of a glamour tie against Premiership opposition for progress in the bread and butter of the Football League - starting against West Brom at the weekend.

Beating Tony Mowbray's side would not only ease the disappointment of losing at Watford but enable United to fire a warning shot across the bows of the rest of the division.

Nerves may becoming frayed on the terraces but, in the dressing room, confidence remains intact.

"Nobody is worrying," he said. "Obviously we want to get that win but we know it will come.

"Everybody should stick together because it's still early days yet.

"I don't sense any hangover from relegation but the fact that we've brought new players in will definitely have helped to give us an extra edge."