Alex Neil has given a glowing assessment of Sheffield United's system ahead of the Blades' meeting with his Preston side on Saturday, calling it "unique".

The Blades system of using "overlapping centre backs" under Chris Wilder has generated plenty of discussion this season, and it appears that Wilder's tactic has a fan in Neil.

Speaking to The Lancashire Post about The Blades ahead of Saturday's clash, Neil said: “Sheffield United have played a certain style since Chris has been there.

“It is different to anyone else in our division and in all four leagues I would think."

Neil, whose Preston side will be looking to get their play-off push back on track following last week's defeat at Reading added: “They have got an unique way of playing which they have done very well to cultivate on the stage where it’s at.

“That is why they’ve had such a good season."

The Blades themselves will be looking to get their hunt for automatic promotion going again following a 3-2 defeat to Bristol City last week, and speaking about what to expect on Saturday, Neil said: “I know we lost earlier this season at their place when we got back to 2-2 and they then made it 3-2.

“We managed to beat them twice last year and they’ve all been really tight games. I 
don’t expect this game to be any different."

The verdict

The Blades system of overlapping centre backs has troubled plenty of teams across the course of the season and it will be interesting to see how Preston themselves deal with it on Saturday.

North End have had another impressive season, and will be determined not to let another play-off push fall away at the final hurdle, setting Saturday's game up perfectly.