Sheffield United fans and players told key to staying in promotion race ahead of Forest test

Sheffield United players, and fans for that matter, have been told how they react to setbacks will form a key part of their push for promotion.

The Blades saw their impressive unbeaten run come to an end on Saturday at Millwall, with Jake Cooper's second half header the difference.

Having climbed into the top six for the first time this season, the defeat saw them drop out of the picture into seventh place.

Two home games in the space of four days against eighth-placed Middlesbrough and ninth-placed Nottingham Forest will be a further test of United's promotion credentials - with Steve Cooper's side visiting on Friday.

Having already tasted defeat under the current management team prior to Saturday's loss, United have been here before.

Their response to the Derby setback in January was to put together a run of nine games without defeat that moved them right into the thick of the promotion picture.

United are looking for something similar as they look to go again, and assistant manager Stuart McCall says reaction, from everybody, is key.

Having been Neil Warnock's number two the season United achieved promotion to the Premier League back in 2005-06, McCall knows all about how to handle a promotion run-in.

"I have no problems with the supporters getting excited, but what it is is just trying to keep a lid on it," he explained.

"The one time you get a disappointing result, we had a couple not long ago when we lost at Derby and were 2-0 up at Preston, a game that we had played well in and all of a sudden everything is not right and we are struggling.

"We have mentioned it to the players because they were as disappointed as anyone in that dressing room at Derby and Preston - as much as the supporters and as much as staff.

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