Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell has hit back at fans who criticised him for selling James Beattie in January.

Victory over Nottingham Forest will send the Blades into second place in the Championship and Blackwell smiled: "It just goes to show we were not a one-man band when James was here. It was not the James Beattie Show at Bramall Lane.

"If I am honest, I have to admit that I did not want to lose a 20-goal-a-season man when Stoke came in for him in January. But I always feared I would lose James and that is why I went out and bought a quality replacement in Darius Henderson from Watford.

"It has all worked out brilliantly. We are in a terrific position to challenge for promotion, - and Beatts is scoring the goals to help Stoke stay in the Premier League."