Blackwell eyes automatic

Despite United looming 12 points behind second place Birmingham and 15 points behind 1st place Wolves, Blackwell who signed a new deal at the Lane last week still has optimism in his players that they can catch the top two.

He said: "It can be done. Ourselves, Reading, Burnley and Cardiff all have to believe that we can catch Birmingham and Wolves.

"I remember three years ago when I was at Leeds, Reading and Sheffield United had run away with it, but if we had beaten Crystal Palace with four games remaining, we could have caught them. You have to believe that we can claw it back.

"It's important that we keep bouncing back and we did that at Charlton we have done it again here and it's important that we keep doing that."