Chris Wilder: 'Playoff race not over'

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has insisted that his side are "not out of" the playoff race after they dropped three points at Fulham last night.

The Blades were brushed aside by the Championship's form side courtesy of goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Tom Cairney at Craven Cottage, a result that left Wilder's side ninth in the table but just three points off the top six.

United were as high as second in the table until November but a poor run of form in the run-up to Christmas, which saw them go winless in seven, left them fighting to keep up in what looks set to be another tight race to finish in the top six.

"We're not out of it, we're three points off the playoff spots with 11 games to go," Wilder told reporters after last night's game. "I believe we should have been in a better position but it is what it is and we're in this position.

"It's all to play for, our season isn't over and it wasn't ever going to be over tonight if we'd won, we wouldn't all of a sudden have cemented a place in the playoffs if we got a result and we weren't going to be out of it if we got beat. It doesn't really change.

"It's another game chalked off, I'm glad we don't have to play Fulham again. There's obviously other challenges to be had between now and the end of the season, but I don't think we'll have a challenge like we did tonight."

United's run-in of 11 fixtures includes just three games against teams currently above them in the table.