Can Claret and Blue come back to bite the Blades?

So, it's Championship Playoff final day. And I'm only too aware that by declaring myself an honorary Preston North End fan I should be hoping that Burnley crash and burn - but I'm not.

Not least because they are a local side with a modest, yet terrific, fan base and a promising young manager in Owen Coyle - so involved in his side that he actually plays in the reserves to give promising youngsters some on-pitch guidance.

But there is one other reason I do not want Burnley to lose today that eclipses all others, and that is my dislike of Sheffield United.

Since the moment they were relegated last year we have heard nothing but whingeing from the Yorkshire club about the dreaded Carlos Tevez saga.

Clubs like Bournemouth and Luton have all fallen foul of a harsh system. But they have knuckled down and turned poverty into promise, making all the right noises to make the rest of the football world applaud in admiration.

But let's not forget, Sheffield United were not docked points or even hard done-by. Over 38 games they did not accumulate enough points. Which means that they were not good enough, regardless of how many goals Carlos Tevez scored.

But the Blades cried, whined and probably dined all the way to the bank on that massive parachute payment that comes with relegation, as well as the £25million coughed up by West Ham.

They could have kicked up a fuss when West Ham first signed the aesthetically challenged Argentine but no, they waited until their fate was sealed before attempting to wriggle out of relegation on a technicality.

My advice to avoid the drop would have come much earlier in the season and involved more man-to-man marking and shooting practice.

So, come 3pm, i'll be cheering on the Claret and Blues. Heaven knows, after 61 games using only 23 players, they deserve it more than anyone.

However, if Sheffield United do win through, I will not be complaining to the FA and I certainly won't want compensation. I'll just keep a keen eye on next season's fixture list hoping, and praying, that they get West Ham on the final day.