All the pressure is on United - Gary Johnson

Last updated : 22 May 2013 By Jamie Furniss

Blades vs Yeovil

Without doubt the surprise package in League One this season has been the Somerset outfit, who amassed 77 points this term, two points greater than the Blades.

The expectations of each club at the start of this arduous season were   quite contrasting, even by manager Gary Johnson's admission.

A third season in League One for the Blades is something not even bearing to the think about, and a 5th-placed finish is another underachievement if United don't prevail in the play-offs again.

Yeovil on the other hand are probably just happy to be in the end of season shoot-out, and huge credit should go their way for an unimaginable season for the Glovers.

The lure of Championship football is appealing to both sides though, but perhaps the need of second-tier football is just slightly greater for one club going into this two-legged affair.

Gary Johnson has masterminded an unbelievable season at Huish Park, and after just clocking up nearly 300 games as Glovers boss, his reputation in the Somerset town has multiplied ten-fold!

Ahead of the game, Johnson said: "We've enjoyed all the big games this year. We might not have won them all but we've learned from them.

"I'm hoping we don't choke on the day of the games but we're looking forward to hopefully winning.

"We aren't expected to beat Sheffield United, nor are we if we get to the final. We're certainly going to be the underdogs, so in that way we're not going to be the ones under pressure.

"We're the underdogs. Whether I prefer it or not (being the underdogs) isn't the case, that's the way it is."

Johnson has reiterated his pleasure to have the second-leg at Huish Park, knowing that playing away second might have been a  disadvantage to the Glovers in front of a packed Bramall Lane.

"Obviously the first game matters when it comes along, but generally you'll know what you've got to do in the second-leg, and you want the second-leg at home to do it in front of your own fans.

"We certainly didn't want to go to a place like Sheffield United in the second-leg and have 35,000 Sheffield United fans screaming their team on.

"The pressure is on them though. We know Sheffield United are desperate to get promoted, and we've got to be aware of that."