Why Filip Uremovic comment reinforces Sheffield United belief ahead of Nottingham Forest clash

Paul Heckingbottom believes his players have already shown they have the big-game mentality needed to see them through their two-legged play-off semi-final with Nottingham Forest. His players can take plenty of inspiration from a number of impressive results when they take to the field on Saturday afternoon.

Under the Blades boss they finished unbeaten against the top eight sides in the division, a sequence that also included a league double of champions Fulham, convincing victories over Middlesbrough and Luton and a thrilling win over Blackburn. They also picked up respectable draws against Bournemouth, Huddersfield and Forest.

They will need to lean on that mentality again when Steve Cooper's side come calling in the first of two matches in the space of four days with the winners going through to Wembley for a shot at the biggest prize in football.

While all managers have belief in their side's own ability, having the proof to back up that judgement helps when trying to underpin such confidence. However, there was one conversation between Heckingbottom and the newest member of his Sheffield United squad that reinforced that message.

"I believe it. I tell them but I have to behave in a way where they understand that," Heckingbottom said. "I have to show them the evidence of that and there is no better evidence than results. Probably more importantly the performances that have come with those results against the teams at the top.

"I have been speaking to Filip [Uremovic] about it and obviously he came in towards the back end but he sees no difference between us and Bournemouth and all the teams at the top.

"He was struggling to understand why we weren't higher up and competing with those teams but he's just experienced