Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell refused to rule out a late challenge for the Championship play-offs following a 2-0 victory over Norwich.Having slipped dangerously close to the relegation zone, United have been transformed since Blackwell's arrival at Bramall Lane last month and have now climbed to 13th in the table.

Blackwell, who named new loan signing John Halls on the bench, said: "All we can do is keep winning and, if we do that, then you never know where it might take us.

"But this is a topsy-turvy division and so the first thing we want to do is get to 50 points.

"When you look at results across the league then it might actually take a few more (points) than that but that was the best performance since I've been here by a country mile.

"I was actually a little bit miffed to come in at half-time not winning and I was worried we might live to rue the fact. But we didn't and that was exactly the type of display I want.

"The place was buzzing and so were the team."

United secured their third Championship victory in succession courtesy of second-half goals from Billy Sharp and Matthew Kilgallon.

But they had already seized control of the match by the time Sharp produced a superb 52nd-minute finish to punish Alex Pearce's poor clearance following David Cotterill's cross.

Darren Huckerby and Matty Pattison went close for the visitors before the break but United were well worth their lead.

Chris Morgan and the impressive Rob Hulse both spurned good opportunities but Kilgallon, who had fired just over the crossbar during the opening skirmishes, doubled United's advantage in the 56th minute when he timed his run to perfection and powered home David Carney's corner.

Cotterill thought he had made it three soon after but his low drive flashed just the wrong side of the far post and although Jamie Cureton threatened a couple of times late on, Norwich could have no complaints about the result.

Norwich manager Glenn Roeder said: "We played well and had chances, but then we held a gun to our head and pulled the trigger twice.

"We've got to get back to doing what we were doing when I first came here and that's winning football matches.

"We don't want to find ourselves sucked into something we don't want to. But I'm not looking over my shoulder.

"When you do that you tend to fall over.

"There have been a few things that have happened in my life that have taught me the best thing is simply to look forward."

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