eyes on prize

A Good Friday was followed up by a great Monday as United marched on from a win over Nottingham Forest by beating Hull City 3-0 at the KCOM Stadium.

Added to that, their closest rivals before the Bank Holiday fixtures, Leeds United lost at Brentford, three days after defeat to Wigan.

That put the Blades three points and, perhaps crucially, 11 goals ahead of Marcelo Bielsa’s men .

Two goals from David McGoldrick and an Enda Stevens effort on the stroke of half-time also moved Wilder's team to within three points of leaders Norwich City with two matches remaining.

United face already relegated Ipswich Town at Bramall Lane on Saturday, while Leeds take on in-form Aston Villa.

It was their performance at the KCOM, as much as the result and its potential implications, which pleased Chris Wilder following a match he admitted had the potential to be "very awkward’ and he praised the focus that his squad have retained.

"Of course we've talked about the big picture," Wilder said. "We've sat down and discussed what it might mean with the lads. But we've also talked about what we need to do to get there and that's show heart, desire and attention to detail. I thought they produced all of that out there.

"Listen, they (Hull) might talk about not spending any money. But they've got a player out there in Kamil Grosicki who Robert Lewandowski, who plays with him for Poland, reckons is one of the best he's worked with.

“They got another, (Jarrod) Bowen who is worth £15m to £20m in my book and they've got Fraizer Campbell who has played in the Premier League.

"On top of that, they've got one of the best home records in the division and a manager who won't have wanted us to come here and do that. So I'm made up for the lads but now we've got to drive it on and keep on doing it."

"We needed another big performance and that's what we got," Wilder added.

"I'm not looking at what anyone else is doing. It's all about taking care of business in terms of what we do here."