February could be a pivotal month for Sheffield United | OneFootball

Sheffield United will head into their February fixtures with a golden opportunity to strengthen their hopes of winning promotion back to the Premier League.

According to a wide variety of football betting sites, the Blades and Leeds United are fancied to secure automatic promotion from the Championship this season.

However, Burnley and Sunderland are also in contention, setting up what promises to be a thrilling battle during the final third of the season.

Chris Wilder’s side kept up the pressure on their promotion rivals with a 2-0 victory over Norwich City. The manager was understandably delighted with the result.

“I managed over 1,000 games and nothing’s won in January,” Wilder told the Eastern Daily Press. “But that was a big three points on offer and to take four points off Norwich, well-coached with a lot of good players, is a good effort.

“It wasn’t a day where it is about one or two performing. I thought everybody was bang at it. We had sevens and eights and a couple of nines in there right through.

“There had to be, if you’re going to win a game of football, especially against the quality of this opposition. A different type of performance, one of control and good play against a decent side.

“We had to be disciplined. It wasn’t a case of sitting back. It was being bold and brave. We’ve not set up to be a defensively-minded team, but if you get both ends of the pitch right, which we did, that gives you a fabulous opportunity of getting a win.”

Sheffield United Could Take Giant Step Towards Promotion in February

While Wilder’s ‘nothing’s won in January’ comment undoubtedly has merit, promotion-winning campaigns in the Championship are often defined by specific periods.

A quick look at the fixture list for February highlights how pivotal the month could be in determining the outcome of the Blades’ promotion bid this term.

They kick-off February with a trip to Derby County, where they will be the favourites to come away with another important victory.

The Rams initially appeared to be getting to grips with life in the second tier after winning promotion from League One, but the wheels have fallen off in recent weeks.

Derby have been dragged into the relegation battle and the Blades can add to their woes by inflicting another defeat on them at the start of next month.

A home game against Portsmouth is next on the agenda and they are another team Wilder’s side should be beating to boost their bid for automatic promotion.

Pompey also climbed out of the third-tier last term, but they have found the step up in class too hot to handle and are in danger of making an immediate return.

They held the Blades to a goalless draw at Fratton Park in September, but will find things much more difficult in front of a packed house at Bramall Lane.

Wilder’s side have a quick turnaround for their third game of the month as play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough travel to Sheffield on February 12.

The Blades will be gunning for revenge after being defeated 1-0 at the Riverside Stadium in October and are fancied to edge what should be a thrilling contest.

A trip to Luton Town is scheduled just three days later, but this should hold no fears for the Yorkshire side given their respective league positions.

The Hatters have been woeful this season and are in danger of suffering their second successive relegation if they fail to get their act together.

The Blades complete their February schedule with a blockbuster home clash at home to promotion rivals Leeds United on February 24.

Leeds recorded a 2-0 victory when the two sides met at Elland Road in mid-October, but it could be a different story in the reverse fixture.

Blades Boosting Squad Depth

Wilder has already strengthened his squad with the addition of Ben Brereton-Diaz on loan from Southampton and more new arrivals are on the cards this month, such as Tom Cannon and Jonjoe Kenny.

He will have a strong squad at his disposal for the final third of the season and this could give Sheffield United a vital edge in the promotion battle.

Beating Leeds at Bramall Lane would be a statement result and put the team in pole position to win automatic promotion, if the rest of the month goes to plan.

A 15-point haul from their five games in February would still not guarantee a place in the top two, but would undoubtedly boost the Blades’ chances.

‘Nothing’s won in January’ is a fair point to make, but Wilder may ultimately look back on February as the month when his team delivered the most important results in their promotion bid.