Middlesbrough vs Sheffield United and battle for promotion to the Championship

Both are humble, reserved and when it comes to receiving praise, they prefer to channel it in the direction of others.

Both have also done an excellent job as managers of Middlesbrough and Sheffield United and continue to do so.

When Carrick arrived, as if the people of Teesside needed to be reminded, Boro found himself in a precarious position and fearful of a fight for survival. After a nightmarish start to the season, Carrick makes Boro dream again.

As for Heckingbottom, getting into the promotion mix has always been an expectation this season, but he’s managed to keep the Blades on course on the pitch while coping with some uncertainties off the pitch. A transfer embargo was imposed on them in January, and although chief executive Stephen Bettis dismissed speech from the administration, he said: “We’re spending every single pound we have, every single pound, and giving as much as we can to the government. ‘ basically the first team to move up.

For a good part of the season, promotion seemed extremely likely for Sheffield United. Eventually, they were gone and gone with Burnley. When they led 1-0 against Boro in February, they were 13 points ahead of Carrick’s side in the live championship standings with a game to go. They still have this game ahead of them, but the gap between the teams is now three points.

Bookmakers still see Sheffield United as favorites to climb but there is no doubt that the Blades have faltered in recent weeks. Heckingbottom’s side have lost four of their last ten games and amassed nine points fewer than Boro, who topped the form table during that period.

Those slip-ups led to some criticism of the Blades from Steel City, something the players, as Heckingbottom hinted after their recent crucial win at Sunderland, were well aware.

He said: “I spoke to the players before they went out to warm up. I assume you want everyone to block out the noise.” [criticism] But that’s not possible when you live in the city, you’re aware of it, you’re criticized, your achievements.

“We beat Reading, we’re going up, we’re losing to Luton, we can’t do it. Boro loses points, we rise again. We’re winning tonight, we’re rising. If we let that influence us, then we’re on a rollercoaster ride and our mood is our daily performance on the training ground.

“We have to forget it and focus daily on the grass, the pitch and the way we prepare during the week. If you engage in all of this, it will affect you. Don’t get involved, focus on us.

However, Sheffield United have their eye on Boro. Heckingbottom admitted that.

“Am I glad Boro lost points? Of course I am,” he said after Boros drew 1-1 at home with Stoke.

“I don’t want to go on this rollercoaster ride because I’m over the top or I’m scared. I don’t want the players and staff to do the same, but I know the players saw that and would have been happy to lose points.” It’s human nature.

It’s human nature and Heckingbottom’s honesty deserves applause, but it was an admission that Boro cares deeply about Sheffield United.

What she will also have in mind is the FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City. It’s a fantastic achievement for a Championship side to finish in the last four, but with a Wembley date on the horizon, can’t we ignore the question of how that will affect their league form?

“We play Man City on the 22nd (April). On the 15th we play Cardiff at home. My question is what impact will the cup have on the players a week before the game? It’s a home game so you.” “I really want three points,” former Sheffield United striker turned pundit Carl Asaba told 5Live last week.

“Three days later on the 18th we have another home game against Bristol City, you need to take three points there but there are still four days to go in the FA Cup semi-finals. That’s what scares me.”

“After the game against Manchester City, we have another home game against West Brom. What will that mean for the boys? If they win, they’ll still be out, they’ll have enough players to show up,” laughed Asaba.

“But what will be the mental impact of losing? Burnley took a little hit (from Manchester City) and they are a very, very good side. There are pros and cons.”

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In this position, what would you prefer: the team that hunts or being hunted? Sheffield United have the advantage of points on the board, Boro have the advantage of momentum.

While Heckingbottom recently admitted he was delighted to see Boro drop points, Carrick was undeterred when asked what had anything to do with Sheffield United. And not just in the context of a press conference, as Stewart Downing recently revealed speaking to Northern Echo’s You Are My Boro.

Downing said: “I asked him about a recent game at the Tunnel, I said ‘Come on Michael, here we go’. He said ‘Nah, there’s still a long way to go’.”

“I said, ‘Come on, we’re friends, we’ve played together for 20 years, you can tell me that,’ and he wasn’t in the mood.”

As a Manchester United player, Carrick experienced every scenario in a title race: leading from the front and catching up from behind. Boro needs blips from Sheffield United but the message is rather to focus on what’s happening at Riverside rather than Bramall Lane.

In the same week that Heckingbottom spoke about the rollercoaster of emotions in a promotion race, Carrick was as calm as ever, brushing away questions about the second-place race and Sheffield United.

While Heckingbottom spoke of the Sheffield United players watching Boro v Stoke and rejoicing at the result, Carrick claimed he wasn’t even aware of the Blades’ slip-ups against Millwall and Blackburn on Saturday midday before Boro kicked off at 3pm . Believe it or not, it’s an example of how the two take different approaches to the promotion race and all that entails.

Heckingbottom and Sheffield United can’t ignore the threat from Middlesbrough, while Boro’s starting position when Carrick took charge makes it almost look like there’s nothing to lose. Boro never seemed weighed down by the pressure.

“There’s no right way or wrong way,” Carrick said when asked how his and Heckingbottom’s approaches differ.

“It just depends on the people and teams involved and what works for them. We do what we do, we’re happy with it and we trust it. We’ll just have to keep going and see what works.” figured out for himself in the end.

For both teams, there will be a final push for promotion starting this Saturday.