LUKE Williams believes that he takes his Swindon Town side to face a Sheffield United outfit finally ready to realise their ambition this afternoon.

Always the bridesmaids in recent seasons, the Blades have so far failed to lift themselves back to the Championship since their relegation to League One in 2011, twice losing in the play-off semi-finals in that time, including a memorable 7-6 aggregate defeat at the hands of Swindon in the 2014-15 campaign.

Since dropping down to the third tier, United are onto their fifth permanent manager in ex-player Chris Wilder but the former Northampton Town and Oxford United chief has made an impressive start to life in charge at Bramall Lane and has guided his team to third in the table, six points behind leaders Scunthorpe United.

Town head coach Williams says that the expectation surrounding the Blades is huge but reckons that this could well be the year they clinch promotion.

“I think it could well be (their year) and we have thought that over the last few seasons, and it’s not quite happened, but it looks like now they’re putting a run together and they’ve got some momentum behind them,” he said.

“I think all the managers that have been in charge since I’ve been in Swindon have all been fantastic – real top-drawer managers – and if you don’t hit the ground running (there), it can be very difficult because the fans are very demanding, and that can play on the players’ minds and can knock their confidence.

“But it looks like Chris has found some form at the moment and found something that works for the team.

“All the managers that have been there have done a good job but things are just clicking at the moment.”

Naturally, those pulsating play-off encounters against United – then managed by Nigel Clough – in May 2015, which included a 5-5 draw at the County Ground, come straight to mind as Williams primes his team to renew hostilities with the Blades.

The Town coach added: “I got reminded by one of their tunnel security last season.

“He told me that me and my team were to blame for Mr Clough being sacked. I’m sure that was a bit tongue-in-cheek but there’s been some great encounters and I think the fans probably remember us quite well, and probably have some reservations about seeing us there.

“The play-off semi-final was incredible. At one point, we’d all lost track of who was winning and who was losing, and we were just trying to out-score each other on the day.

“You often look for Sheffield United (in the fixture list). They’re considered to be a giant in this division and quite rightly, too.”